Jigyasa Mishra, Faculty of Law, University of Allahabad
ABSTRACT
There is a fierce debate going on in India over the hijab controversy. The controversy owes its origin to the state of Karnataka where some Muslim girl students at a government run college were denied permission to enter the classes in Udupi district because they were wearing the hijab. Soon after the denial, the girls started protesting against the college authorities.
The issue turned critical when some Hindu Students started wearing saffron shawls in college to show their protest against the hijab wearing girls.
A violent clash happened between Police and Students in Bengaluru. After that an order was issued by the Karnataka government that imposed a ban on wearing clothes that tend to disturb equality, integrity and public order. Provocative statements started being made from both the sides. State Government considered it better to shut down schools and colleges because there was fear of violence.
Petitions were filed before the Karnataka High Court against the hijab ban in classroom. However the Karnataka High Court held that hijab is not an essential religious practice of Islam and government has right to prescribe the uniform in government run colleges. Challenging this Judgment an appeal has been made to Supreme Court. The question whether Muslim girls can wear Hijab in schools and colleges or not will be finally decided by the Supreme Court which is currently hearing the matter.
This paper is an attempt to analyze the ongoing hijab controversy and throw light on its various aspects.
Keywords: Hijab, Udupi run Government College, Essential Religious Practice Test, Karnataka High Court, Supreme Court.
