The Mangaluru University in Karnataka clarified on Friday (May 27) that it won’t allow protesting Muslim students to attend classes in hijab.
Muslim girls were attending classes in hijab in Mangaluru University College. A section of students started protesting hijab in classrooms on Thursday (May 26) saying it was in violation of the Karnataka High Court order.
The University Vice-Chancellor P Subrahmanya Yadapadithaya clarified that the university will not allow students in hijab to attend classes and will provide counselling to Muslim students to change their mind and attend classes without hijab. He added that if they don’t change their mind, it will facilitate their admission in other institutes which allow hijab.
“We have learned that about 15 girls are firm about wearing the hijab to class. We are ready to counsel these girls and make them understand the Karnataka high court order. If counselling does not work, we will help them get admission in educational institutions where the hijab is allowed or where there are no uniforms,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
He further added, “There was confusion about whether the high court order would apply to degree colleges. However, according to the advisory of the state government, the higher education council, and the court order, all colleges will have to comply with the uniform.”
In February this year, some Muslim girls in Karnataka’s Udupi suddenly started demanding that they be allowed in classrooms in hijab. When the administration did not allow this, they moved Karnataka High Court with a petition to allow entry in classrooms in hijab. The Karnataka High Court dismissed their petition saying hijab was not a mandatory religious practice.
The Muslim girls moved the Supreme Court where the matter is sub judice currently.
Media investigation in March this year had revealed that the Islamist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI) had orchestrated the hijab controversy which disturbed the educational environment in multiple educational institutes across the states.
