Karnataka bans hijab, saffron scarves in state-run minority institutes

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday issued a fresh circular on banning hijabs in classrooms in minority institutions run by the state, PTI reported.

The circular issued by Major Manivannan P, secretary in the department of minority welfare, Hajj and Wakf Department, says the students studying in schools managed by the minority welfare department in the state should not wear saffron scarves, Hijab or any religious flags.

The circular noted the Karnataka High Court has in its interim order restrained all the students regardless of their religion or faith from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, Hijab, religious flags or the like within the classroom, until further orders.

"The above High Court order is applicable to residential schools, colleges, Maulana Azad Model English Medium schools coming under the minority welfare department. Against this background, wearing the saffron shawl, scarves, Hijab or any other religious flags is prohibited in the schools and colleges and Maulana Azad Model English Medium schools, which come under the minority welfare department," the order read.

The circular further read."We make it clear that this order is confined to such of the institutions wherein the college Development Committees have prescribed the student dresscode/uniform."

The order comes amid simmering tension in the schools and colleges over minority girls with Burqa and Hijab being denied entry in the schools and colleges, following last week's High Court order.

Meanwhile, cases were registered against nine people for violating the prohibitory orders issued by the Shivamogga district authority under Section 144 of the CrPC. They had staged a protest against the PU College authorities in the district headquarter town for not letting the Muslim girls with Burqa on the campus.