A controversy has erupted after reports of the suspension of 58 students of a Karnataka college for protesting against hijab restrictions in Shivamogga district surfaced online.
While the college principal verbally suspended the students, the Shivamogga DC said the principal had just threatened and not actually suspended them.
There were reports that 58 students of a college in Shiralkoppa talluk in Shivamogga district have been suspended for protesting against not being allowed to wear Hijab.
However, videos had surfaced online where the principal was heard telling students that they had been suspended from the college as they violated the rules.
“Deputy SP, DDPI and SDMC had tried to convince you. But still you have not listened to them. You have violated the rules. That’s why we are suspending you all from college for the time being. You can’t enter the premises since you are suspended,” the principal said.
India Today spoke to Shivamogga DC who denied any such reports, saying that the principal was simply threatening the students and no suspension orders were officially issued.
“The principal was just threatening them and we checked it. Students were getting unruly. We told them to wait outside. Kids were coming inside to protest. That time, he said verbally, but no suspension orders were issued,” the DC said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Youth Empowerment and Sports, Narayana Gowda, also clarified that the students have not been suspended.
“It was only to threaten them to go back home and study. They will be taken back to school,” he said.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has also asked the students and educational institutions to follow the high court order. “Outsiders are creating trouble, hence you’re seeing all these. If outsiders don’t get involved in this, students’ parents and management will solve it. Earlier, too, it was done. I’m getting information on the issues too. I’ll take stock of the tilak issue too,” the chief minister said.
Meanwhile, other protesters have also been booked for violating prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC.
For the last three days, the police and tehsildar have been informing the students about the rules.
On Thursday, 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 protests against the PU College authorities in the district headquarter town for not letting the Muslim girls with Burqa on the campus.
Guest lecturer resigns over denial to wear hijab
A guest lecturer at a private pre-university college in Tumakuru resigned after she was allegedly asked not to wear hijab or display any religious symbol.
However, the college management has refuted the charge, saying there was no such issue.
Chandini, who has been working as a guest lecturer in a private college, teaching English for the past three years, said the principal summoned her and told her they had received orders that no one should take class wearing hijab or displaying any religious identity.
Hijab not essential religious practice of Islam: Karnataka govt to HC
The Karnataka government told the high court that the hijab is not an essential religious practice of Islam and preventing its use did not violate Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.
Advocate Navadgi said, “My first submission is that the order is in consonance with the Education Act. Second is the more substantive argument that hijab is an essential part. We have taken the stand that wearing hijab does not fall within the essential religious practice of Islam. Third is that the right to wear hijab can be traced to Article 19 (1) (a). Submission is that it does not do so.”
The High Court, in its interim order pending consideration of all petitions related to the hijab row, last week restrained all the students from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, hijab and any religious garments within the classroom.
Educational institutions in Karnataka, especially schools and colleges, are witnessing tense moments over hijab, which started from Udupi at the end of December with some girls insisting that they should be allowed to wear the headscarf as it was their religious right.
(With inputs from Parthajit)
READ: Allow us to wear hijab on Fridays and Ramzan, Muslim girls tell Karnataka HC
ALSO READ: Hijab, ghoongat and Hobsons’ choice: Top points from Karnataka HC hearing
