Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Wednesday withdrew the controversial 2022 order issued by the previous BJP regime that had effectively barred students from wearing hijab in educational institutions across the state.
The Congress government led by Siddaramaiah revoked the order introduced during the tenure of former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, under which strict enforcement of prescribed uniforms in schools and colleges had resulted in restrictions on hijab in classrooms.
According to sources, fresh guidelines have been issued permitting students to wear “limited traditional, cultural and religious symbols” while maintaining uniformity and discipline in educational institutions. The move is expected to allow Muslim girl students to attend classes wearing hijab once again.
The hijab controversy first erupted in January 2022 in Udupi district after a group of Muslim students at a pre-university college were allegedly denied entry into classrooms for wearing hijab. The issue soon escalated across the state after Hindutva groups and activists associated with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad began counter-protests by wearing saffron shawls on campuses.
Amid mounting tensions, the BJP government issued a Government Order on February 5, 2022, directing institutions to strictly enforce prescribed uniforms. Muslim organisations, civil rights activists and affected students strongly opposed the move, alleging that it discriminated against Muslim women and disrupted the education of hundreds of students across Karnataka.
Subsequently, the Karnataka High Court upheld the government order in March 2022, observing that wearing hijab had not been established as an essential religious practice in Islam. The matter later reached the Supreme Court of India, where a two-judge bench delivered split verdicts in October 2022, leaving the issue unresolved at the national level.
Political observers said the Siddaramaiah government had been facing increasing pressure from Muslim organisations and minority groups to fulfil its electoral assurance of revoking the restriction. Several Muslim bodies had recently criticised the Congress government for delaying promises made to the community despite being in power for nearly three years.
Against this backdrop, a “Karnataka Muslim Convention” was scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on May 16, where organisers were expected to present an assessment under the theme: “What the Congress government promised, what it delivered, and what lies ahead.” Political observers believe the convention could have become a platform for criticism of the state government.
The government’s decision to revoke the order ahead of the convention is being viewed by some political observers as an attempt to address growing discontent among sections of the Muslim community and fulfil one of its pending commitments.
Siddaramaiah had earlier hinted at reversing the restriction on multiple occasions. During a public event in Mysuru in December 2023, he had said that “food habits and dress choices are matters of personal freedom” and indicated that the government was considering withdrawing the restriction. The statement had triggered criticism from the BJP and right-wing organisations, following which no immediate action was taken.
The latest decision has been welcomed by several Muslim organisations, student groups and civil society activists, who argued that the restriction had adversely affected the education of many Muslim girls, with some reportedly discontinuing their studies due to the issue.