Separate colleges allowing hijab to be established in Karnataka

Bengaluru, July 20: Up to 13 Muslim educational institutions have applied for approval from the Karnataka government to open Pre-University Colleges in Dakshina Kannada, allowing Muslim female students to wear the hijab inside of classrooms.

All applications have requested permission to open PU colleges (first and second PUC) in the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada, where the movement for the hijab in Karnataka started, according to sources in the Education Department.

While the majority of Muslim female students adhere to the High Court’s ruling that clothing bearing religious symbols is prohibited and attend lessons uncovered, some female students are adamant about donning the hijab.

They have given up on their studies since schools won’t let them enter courses while wearing a headscarf.

The College Development Committees are given authority to create rules in this regard by the government directive. There have been 14 applications for the opening of PU Colleges in the Dakshina Kannada district, 13 of which came from Muslim academic institutions.

Sources verified that only 1 Muslim institute has received approval to launch PU College thus far. Muslims in the area demanded that separate courses be opened for their female students so that they could wear the hijab.

Last Monday, hundreds of girls marched in Mangaluru city under the flag of the Campus Front of India (CFI) to demand their freedom to wear the hijab. The Supreme Court is now deliberating the case.

Six Udupi Pre-University Girl’s College students ignited a hijab issue that spread throughout the state and garnered international attention. The issue challenged the state’s ability to maintain law and order and caused civil discontent.

A Special Bench of three judges from the Karnataka High Court dismissed the applications filed by Muslim female students requesting permission to wear the headscarf. In Karnataka, where the BJP is at power, hijab regulations are being strictly enforced in educational institutions, and pupils are not permitted to wear them in class.

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