No hijab on campus till final HC order: Karnataka Minister
"Since the High Court has not given an interim relief for the petitioners, the earlier circular which was issued to educational institutions as per the Karnataka Education Act shall continue," he told a section of media here.
Bengaluru: Karnataka Education Minister BC Nagesh on Wednesday said the earlier circular banning hijab on college campuses will be valid till Karnataka High Court gives its verdict.
“Since the High Court has not given an interim relief for the petitioners, the earlier circular which was issued to educational institutions as per the Karnataka Education Act shall continue,” he told a section of media here.
The minister reiterated that as per Karnataka Education Act was framed in 1985 and rule 11 under it was introduced in 1995, wherein it clearly states that all registered educational institutions in Karnataka have every right to prescribe their dress code.
“So, the Udupi pre-university government college has all the rights to prescribe the dress code as per the law and rule mentioned. And the students should follow the rules,” he said. Moreover, the students and their parents have given undertaking that the dress code will be followed by them, Nagesh said.
“Therefore, it is a violation of norms if any student violates the dress code,” he argued. Earlier, the Karnataka High Court refused to grant interim relief to petitioners and referred the matter to a larger bench, reasoning that these matters give rise to certain constitutional questions of seminal importance in view of certain aspects of personal law.
In the morning, Nagesh said the government will not allow religious slogans like “Allahu Akbar” and “Jai Shri Ram” on educational campuses. Clarifying on the Mandya incident that a burqa-clad girl was heckled by saffron-shawl clad men, the minister said that no other student was around her when she shouted “Allahu Akbar”.
