Amid hijab row, Karnataka govt likely to issue guidelines for headscarves in schools

As videos surfaced of some students and teachers being forced to take off their hijab before entering schools and colleges in Karnataka, the state government is likely to introduce a Standard Operating Procedure on the usage of hijab.

The Karnataka high court has proposed disallowing religious garments in schools and colleges till the matter is pending with the court.

The government is likely to issue guidelines for all schools and colleges after some students came to attend classes on Monday wearing hijab despite the court order, reports said.

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Video showed that some students and teachers were asked to remove hijab by school authorities standing outside the school gate. The government is likely to come up with a new set of guidelines to prevent such situations, reports said.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will meet Education Minister BC Nagesh, education department officials and home department officials to decide on new guidelines based on the high court proposal.

According to some reports, the new guidelines will let students coming in hijabs and burqas enter schools and then change into uniform rather than making them stand outside and remove the head scarf.