Invoking the Education Act of the state, the government leaves the matter to the Discretion of college managements and students duty-bound to wear the dress chosen by the college authorities
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – In a latest twist to Karnataka’s hijab row, the state government, on Saturday, ordered a ban on wearing clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public order. The order is issued with a view to set at rest the hijab (head scarf) controversy as it is fast taking political colour.
The government order read: “Invoking 133 (2) of the Karnataka Education Act-1983, which says a uniform style of clothes has to be worn compulsorily. The private school administration can choose a uniform of their choice.”
The order makes it incumbent upon the students to wear the dress chosen by the College Development Committee or the appellate committee of the administrative board of the pre-university colleges, which come under the pre-university education department.
”In the event of the administrative committee not selecting a uniform, clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public law and order should not be worn,” the order added.
The controversy over hijab was confined to Udupi and Chikkamagaluru initially in the beginning of January. But soon, the issue spread to other parts of the State with the girls wearing hijab to class. This trend snowballed into a major controversy with political parties jumping into the bandwagon.
Of late, boys started putting on saffron scarves at the colleges to counter the hijab worn by girls.
While the Congress leaders came up in support of the hijab, the BJP said it would not allow ‘Talibanisation’ of educational institutions.
