Eight female students at the government-run Pre-University College for Girls in Karnataka’s Udupi have been denied entry into classes for the past three weeks because they wear hijabs.
Our constitution guarantees freedom to practice one’s religion. Moreover, the state government has no policy over dress codes. But, the college claims that the religious headscarf violates the institution’s dress code.
The students are studying commerce and science in 11th and 12th grade and state that they have not attended classes since December 27 over the diktat.
As they stand outside classrooms waiting to be let in, they continue to be marked absent. The Wire spoke to the girls about the situation. Here is what they had to say.
