Three hijab-wearing students from Udupi college denied entry to attend practical exam

Three hijab-clad students of the pre-university Women's college at Udupi, who are also petitioners in the case relating to the hijab controversy in Karnataka was not allowed to take their practical exams on Monday.

It has been reported that the student's request to postpone their practical examinations was turned down and they also alleged that the principal threatened them with a police complaint about approaching him.

A.H. Almas, one of the girls, tweeted: "Today was our final practical exam! We had completed our record books and went in great hopes to attend the practical exam. It was so disheartening when our principal threatened us saying, 'You have 5 mins to leave, if you don't leave, I'll file a police complaint'."

In a second tweet, Almas added, "Right now we should have been in our labs attending the practicals not compelled to leave. The hopes I had from college and my dreams are getting shattered due to the hatred sowed against the hijab."

The girls also narrated their ordeal on how they thought they would be allowed to write the exams after months of watching YouTube videos and preparing for the exam.

As per reports, Almas, Hazra Shifa and Bibi Ayesha returned home without appearing for the exam.

However, the principal of the college, Rudre Gowda said that he tried to explain to the students the need to follow the high court interim order, but the students opted to return home without appearing for the practical exam.

"Though it was late, we were willing to give them some grace time. However, they preferred to leave the college, without speaking. There are no supplementary exams for practicals and it will cost them a year,'' he added.

The Karnataka High Court is yet to issue final orders after hearing the case for 11 days. In an interim order, however, the High Court had restrained students from wearing any religious garment in classrooms on campuses that have prescribed a dress code.

Meanwhile, the girls' requests to appear for their exams have so far been to no avail. The six girls from the Women's Government Pre-University College in Udupi had earlier written to the pre-university board on February 24 to postpone their practical examinations. 

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