Bangalore. The Karnataka government has made uniform mandatory for Pre-University Course (PUC) students from the academic year 2022-23. According to sources, after the resumption of PUC classes, the ruling BJP took this decision in view of the possibility of a hijab crisis.
The SSLC (Class 10) results were declared in the state on Thursday and admissions to the colleges will begin from Friday.
Uniform was not mandatory in the guidelines issued by the Education Department for the academic year 2020-21.
Education department sources said the new rule would empower the college management to ban hijab in classrooms.
Many parents and students have questioned the government’s decision. However, a special bench of the Karnataka High Court, while hearing the matter upholding the government order, observed that it is mandatory for students to wear uniforms.
The court also dismissed a petition challenging the uniform rule and seeking the right to wear hijab in classrooms. The petitioners have approached the Supreme Court regarding the matter.
Leaving no scope for any confusion regarding wearing hijab, the guidelines mention that the uniform prescribed by the School Development and Management Committee (SDMC) is mandatory for PUC students.
The new circular states that in case the SDMC does not prescribe any uniform, the students are recommended to wear such a uniform which maintains equality and unity and underlined that it should not disturb the public order.
The hijab controversy (which also made headlines in international news) began with 6 girl students launching a protest demanding the right to wear the hijab in classrooms. The protest against the hijab, which started at the Udupi Girls Pre-University College, spread across the state.
The issue took a communal turn and jeopardized the law and order situation in the state. The crisis led to disturbing incidents creating social unrest in the state. Muslim organizations and businessmen opposed the High Court’s order on Hijab.
Later, Hindu organizations alleged that Muslim traders do not respect the court’s order. He called for boycotting Muslim vendors, traders, artisans. Muslim traders were asked to close their shops in temples and religious fares.
At the same time, the issue of use of loudspeakers by mosques for calling azaan against the guidelines of the Supreme Court is also being raised by Hindu organizations.
—AnyTV News
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