A controversy akin to the recent Karnataka hijab row unfolded on Saturday (February 17) in Rajasthan as female students arrived at a government school in Jodhpur adorned in hijabs, defying the prescribed dress code. The dispute ignited at Government Higher Secondary School No. 2 in Pipar City, situated in the rural outskirts of Jodhpur district.
The conflict erupted when more than 10 Muslim female students arrived at the school wearing headscarves, contravening the stipulated uniform policy. As tensions escalated, a video capturing parents engaging in a heated exchange with the school principal circulated widely online, underscoring the contentious nature of the issue.
School authorities, reiterating the importance of uniform adherence, emphasised the necessity for all students to comply with the designated dress code. Additional personnel from Pipar police station were summoned to the scene to manage the escalating situation, as concerned parents converged at the school premises.
An intervention by one of the teachers, highlighting the inconsistency with the school uniform policy, led to the girls being barred from entering the school grounds due to dress code violations. Subsequently, the situation intensified as aggrieved students brought their parents to confront the principal, expressing their intent to persist with wearing hijabs to school despite regulations to the contrary.
Allegations of misconduct surfaced, with parents accusing a teacher of derogatory remarks directed at hijab-wearing students. However, Principal Ram Kishor Sankhala maintained that the school’s stance was solely based on upholding uniform guidelines, stressing that disruptions ensued when individuals from different communities intervened, necessitating police intervention to restore order.
Principal Ram Kishor Sankhala said, “We have only asked children to come to school wearing the government-prescribed school dress code. On this, some people from other communities came to the school and created a ruckus. The atmosphere of the school became tense. The situation was calmed down after the arrival of additional police personnel.”
He added, “Councillor Muzaffar Khalifa and the husband of the municipality vice-president staged a demonstration demanding information about the guidelines regarding the dress code. He also threatened that the government is there today, and tomorrow it will not be there, but the teachers are always going to be here, who will have to bear the brunt of it. After this, a complaint was made to the police. The police calmed the matter.”
Councillor Muzaffar Khalifa and the spouse of the municipality vice-president staged a demonstration, pressing for clarity on dress code directives and cautioning against potential repercussions for educators. Amidst the turmoil, Chief Block Education Officer Sumer Singh intervened, reiterating the imperative for students to adhere to the prescribed dress code.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan’s Education Minister Madan Dilawar reiterated the state government’s stance on uniform adherence, emphasising that religious conversions within school premises would not be tolerated, underscoring the need for compliance with prescribed dress codes in both government and private institutions.
Minister Dilawar said a few days ago, “Uniforms have been prescribed by the state government in all government schools of the state. Even in private schools, students come to the schools wearing a dress code prescribed by that school. In such a situation, students will have to go to school in the prescribed dress. Apart from this, no other dress will be allowed. Students cannot come to the school wearing the desired dress. Religious conversion will not be allowed in any government or private school in Rajasthan, it will be strictly stopped.”
The hijab controversy at Government Higher Secondary School No. 2 in Pipar City underscores the delicate balance between religious expression and institutional regulations in educational settings. As stakeholders navigate the complexities of cultural diversity and uniform policies, the incident serves as a reminder of the challenges in reconciling individual freedoms with institutional norms.
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