Karnataka: Hijab ban halves number of Muslim students in government PUCs, shifting to private colleges
After days of protests, the matter reached the High Court. After a few days of hearing, the court gave its verdict. The High Court said that the hijab is not religiously obligatory, so it cannot be worn in educational institutions.
Image credit source: PTI
The Hijab Controversy on Karnataka High Court The decision given by the Chief Minister may or may not have an impact anywhere, but it has a significant impact in Udupi district. There has been a remarkable change among the Muslim students here. After the High Court’s order on hijab, the number of minority students in government colleges has dropped by more than 50 percent. People started shifting to private PUCs. This information has emerged in a report.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the number of Muslim students entering Class 11 in all pre-university colleges in Udupi is almost the same (1296 in 2021-22 and 1320 in 2022-23). At the same time, their number of admissions in government colleges has come down to half as compared to the previous year. According to statistics, in 2021-22, 388 Muslim students were admitted in government colleges. Whereas only 186 students got admission in government colleges in 2022-23.
As against 178, 91 girls got admission in government PUC this year
If we talk about gender, then this statistic is even more shocking. This year (2022-23) only 91 Muslim girls have taken admission in government colleges compared to 178 last year (2021-22). At the same time, the number of boys also decreased. Last session it was 210 while this session only 95. At the same time, all Muslim students are getting admission in private colleges.
927 students have been admitted in private colleges this year. Last year only 662 Muslim students got admission in private colleges. Besides, the admission rate of Muslim boys and girls in private colleges has increased. As against 334 last year, 440 people have been admitted to private colleges this year. On the other hand, talking about girls, last year 328 were admitted in private colleges, whereas this year 487 Muslim girls were admitted in private colleges.
This is how the hijab debate started
Hijab dispute case in Karnataka started from Udupi on 31 December 2021. In the government PU college here, 6 students wearing hijab have been prevented from coming to class. After this, protests started outside the college and the issue came up for discussion. The girl students said that she would come to school only in hijab, but the school administration refused to do so.
The High Court ruled
After days of protests, the matter reached the High Court. After a few days of hearing, the court gave its verdict. The High Court said that the hijab is not religiously obligatory, so it cannot be worn in educational institutions. The court also empowered the government to issue orders.
But the matter did not stop here, it reached the Supreme Court. The case is also heard here. A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court gave a split verdict. The matter then reached the larger bench. Now till the big bench takes a decision on the matter, the Karnataka High Court decision will remain in force.
