Mandya

Amid ongoing controversy over wearing hijab in classrooms, arguments between parents and a teacher erupted outside Rotary School in Karnataka's Mandya as she asked students to take off hijab before entering campus.

Asif, one of the parents, said the school administration was arguing with parents instead of allowing students in the classrooms. "We are requesting the school administration to allow students in the classrooms. The students can take off hijab after entering the classrooms but the teachers are arguing with us," Asif said.

The schools for classes up to 10th standard re-opened on Monday in Karnataka.

A decision regarding pre-university colleges, colleges, and universities can be expected after a review of the situation in the State, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said.

The hijab row in Karnataka began in January this year when some students of Government Girls PU college in the Udupi district of the state alleged that they were barred from attending classes. During the protests, some students claimed that they were denied entry into the college for wearing hijab. 

A video clip of students being asked to take off their hijab before entering school was posted on social media:

#WATCH | K'taka: Argument b/w parents & a teacher outside Rotary School in Mandya as she asked students to take off hijab before entering campus

A parent says,"Requesting to allow students in classroom, hijab can be taken off after that but they're not allowing entry with hijab" pic.twitter.com/0VS57tpAw0

— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022

Following this incident, students of different colleges arrived at Shanteshwar Education Trust in Vijayapura sporting saffron stoles. The situation was the same in several colleges in the Udupi district.

The pre-University education board had released a circular stating that students can wear only the uniform approved by the school administration and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges.

Meanwhile, Karnataka High Court also appealed to the student community and the public at large to maintain peace and tranquillity while hearing various pleas challenging a ban on wearing hijab in classrooms in the state.

The Karnataka High Court on Friday uploaded the interim order passed on the petitions challenging the hijab ban in colleges in the state. The hearing of the petitions will continue on February 14.