Udupi Hijab Row Students Allowed To Enter College But With A Condition 

The students wearing hijab at the Government PU College at Kundapur in Udupi district, Karnataka, were previously denied entry into the college as they were dressed inappropriately and not in uniform. This incident took place, after a college in the same district had denied entry to the students wearing hijab. A video emerged last week, showing the students pleading with the authorities.

On February 7, the college allowed the students wearing hijab (headscarf) to enter the premises and sit in the classroom. However, they will be made to sit in a separate classroom. The news agency ANI reported the Additional Superintendent of Police (SP)of Udupi ST Siddalingappa said, "The situation is under control in Kundapur and students are being allowed to come to the colleges and allowed into the campus by wearing Hijab. There is no law and order situation in Kundapur."

On February 3 morning, Muslim women wearing hijab were denied entry in Bhandarkars' College Of Kundarpur. This was the second college to do so in the area. A video surfaced on social media, showing two officials of the college stopping them at the gate and not allowing their entry. As women in hijab pleaded to be allowed to sit for classes as their examination approaches in two months.

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The students were stopped by the college principal, who cited that according to government orders and the college guidelines, students need to come in uniform. Until now, the state rule was that the students can enter the college with the hijab on but had to take it off inside the classroom.

This incident did not take place in isolation. It was a spillover from another college in Udupi named PU Girls College, which discontinued women wearing hijab in college a month ago. Recently, a student had filed a petition with the High Court stating that they should be allowed to wear hijab inside the classroom too.

Udupi Hijab Row Students Allowed To Enter College But With A Condition

This entire row over hijab in Kundapur college started after 100 boys showed up at college wearing saffron shawls. They were denied entry by the authorities. Post which, the boys started shouting 'Jai Shree Ram' which created a tense situation. The District-In-Charge of Udupi S Angara reacted to the situation and said that one rule will be followed by all schools and colleges.

Earlier, the Home Minister of Karnataka Araga Jnanendra had said that directions have been taken by the police to unearth communal forces behind the row. He said, "Naqab, burqa, hijab, saffron shawl or green shawls are not allowed in the classroom. The Minister of Education has already stated that uniforms are compulsory. They should not be any divisive factors in the academic environment. There are mosques, churches and temples for religious practices."