Hijab row: Kerala student quits school, parents 'deeply hurt' over institution's stance

Thiruvananthapuram: The class VIII student at St. Rita's school as Palluruty in Kochi, who was banned from wearing hijab in the school, has quit the school.

The girl's father said in Friday that the student as well as the family were deeply hurt over the stand of the school authorities and hence they decided to quit the school. He also warned of legal action against those trying to unleash communal campaigns over the issue.

The school authorities reiterated that they are still willing to welcome the student, provided she adheres to the school uniform.

Kerala general education minister V Sivankutty, who is already facing criticism for worsening the issue, continued to take a highly critical stand against the Christian management run school by stating that "a teacher who is wearing headscarf (nun's veil) is not allowing students to wear hijab." He also said that the school management would be held responsible for the student leaving the school and the mental agony caused to her.

It was on Monday that the issue surfaced with a section of activists of the Social Democratic Party of India linked with banned outfit Popular Front of India staging a protest at the school for preventing the student from wearing hijab. Even as Congress MP Hibi Eden said on Tuesday that the issue was settled and the girl's parents agreed to abide by the school uniform, the education minister later strongly flayed the school management for not allowing the student to wear hijab. But the school authorities remained firm on their stand citing a 2018 order of the Kerala High Court that allows schools to prescribe uniforms.

HC refuses stay on order

The Kerala High Court Friday refused to stay an order of the state  education department directing the school to allow the student to wear hijab. The court also sought response from the state government on the matter.

The school authorities had approached the court maintaining that the education department's directive to allow the student to wear religious attire in school would undermine the secular and inclusive ethos of educational institutions.