Students wearing hijabs not allowed to appear for practical exam in Udupi

It may be recalled that the agitating students at the Government PU College in Udupi had appealed to the government to postpone PU practical examinations

Three second year PU students of a government college in Udupi and around 20 others of a private college in Shivamogga were not allowed to appear for practical examinations on Monday as they refused to remove headscarves and enter inside.

The High Court in its interim order over the hijab row stated that students should not wear any religious attire to classes till the final order and the interim order is confined to institutions where College Development Committees have prescribed the dress code.

In Udupi, Almas A H, Hazra Shifa and Bi Ayesha returned home.

Almas A H claimed that the principal threatened to file a complaint against the girls if they did not leave the college in five minutes. The students had already completed their assignments. Her dreams were shattered due to the hijab row. Hatred was sown against the headscarf.

Also Read: There is no ban on wearing Hijab in India, says Naqvi

The agitating students had appealed to the government to postpone the practical examinations until the High Court pronounced the final order. The students had also submitted a memorandum to deputy director of Pre-University education Maruthi M to postpone the practical examinations.

Principal Rudre Gowda tried to persuade the students to remove their headscarves before entering inside the examination hall, but the students were firm on their demand, according to sources. Maruthi M declined to comment.

About 20 students of DVS PU college in Shivamogga returned home as they were not given permission to appear for the practical exams in headscarves.

Authorities stopped some hijab-clad students at the entrance. The police directed them to remove their headscarves and enter inside or return home due to prohibitory orders in place.

Citing the interim order, the principal turned down their request for permission to attend the classes in hijab.

Practical exams that began on Monday will conclude on March 25 in Udupi and Shivamogga districts. Schools and colleges in Shivamogga city limits were shut following the murder of 28-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Harsha on February 20. The educational institutions reopened on Monday.

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