Amid the Hijab Row, all colleges in KA are closed till Feb 16

In Karnataka, colleges and schools for classes 11 and 12 students will be closed from Saturday to Wednesday due to the dispute over Muslim students wearing hijab on campus. Schools, on the other hand, are open until the 10th standard. On Monday, the high court will continue hearing petitions challenging the hijab ban, the Karnataka government stated today.

Protests against a hijab ban in one government-run college in Udupi began last week and soon extended to numerous other institutions where students wearing hijabs were denied access. As saffron scarf-wearing students launched counter protests, violence at one college forced the police to fire teargas to control the flare-up.

The Supreme Court rejected an immediate hearing on the hijab controversy today, stating it would “interfere only when it is appropriate.” A girl in Karnataka had approached the Supreme Court on the matter.

Practical tests will begin on February 15, according to the student’s petition to the Supreme Court, and “any interference with students’ access to educational institutions will delay their education.”

Basavaraj S Bommai, the Chief Minister, has appealed to the public to maintain peace and unity.

As tensions rise, security officers conducted rounds in three Karnataka towns. Flag marches were held in Udupi, Chitradurga, and Doddaballapura by the police.

The flag march comes a day after the Karnataka High Court announced that hearings on petitions challenging the hijab restrictions would continue on Monday. In an interim judgement issued today, the high court stated that no religious attire, such as shawls or hijab, will be allowed inside educational institutions.

Also Read: http://arthparkash.com/english/karnataka-hc-interim-order-police-stage-route-march-in-udupi