No official dress code in place, says Kuvempu varsity VC

To resolve the controversy that has erupted over dress code at Sahyadri Arts & Commerce College and Sahyadri Science College, constituent colleges of Kuvempu University, the varsity has decided not to impose restrictions on wearing burqa and saffron shawls in classroom.

 A decision was taken after holding separate meetings with students and teachers of both the colleges here on Saturday.

Vice-chancellor Jogan Shankar told DH that officially there is no dress code for students pursuing degree and postgraduate courses in the state. So, dress code can’t be made mandatory. It is left to students to wear clothes of their choice.

He said he would hold talks with the state government to introduce a rule in this regard. A decision on dress code has to be taken at the government level, he added.

Registrar Bhojya Naik, Superintendent of Police Abhinav Khare, Additional Deputy Commissioner K Channabasappa, Sahyadri Arts & Commerce college principal Gowdar Shivannavar, Sahyadri Science College principal G Shakuntala and senior faculty attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Muslim students under the aegis of Campus Front of India staged a protest on the premises of the deputy commissioner’s office, urging the university authorities not to make dress code mandatory as it would be in violation of the Constitution.

A section of students of the colleges had staged a protest on the campus on February 2 opposing Muslim girls wearing burqa in classrooms. They had stated that it was a violation of the dress code imposed by the university.

Following this, the university clarified that dress code was not mandatory. This irked Hindu students, who staged a demonstration on the campus on Thursday. But, Muslim students appealed to the college authorities to allow them to wear burqa in classrooms as it is their tradition.

Classes were suspended on Thursday as tension prevailed on the campus. According to Sahyadri Arts & Commerce College authorities, classes will not be held even on February 6 as the situation is still grim. Classes are likely to resume on February 7.