As many as 13 Muslim educational institutions have applied for permission from the Karnataka government to establish pre-university colleges in Dakshina Kannada so that Muslim female students can wear the hijab in the classrooms.
14 institutions, out of which 13 are run by Muslims have applied to launch open PU colleges (first and second PUC) in the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada, where the movement for the hijab in Karnataka began, according to sources in the Education Department, IANS reported.
According to reports, only 1 Muslim institute has received approval to open PU College thus far. After the hijab ban was implemented across educational institutions in Karnataka, Muslims in the region demanded that separate courses be opened for their female students so that they could wear the hijab.
In March this year, a three-bench of the Karnataka High Court dismissed the applications filed by Muslim female students requesting permission to wear the hijab inside classrooms. The high court held that hijab is not an essential practice of Islam and educational institutions have a right to prescribe dress, to which the students must adhere to.
Some students even discontinued their education since schools and colleges did not permit them to attend courses while wearing a headscarf.
Last Monday, hundreds of girls marched under the flag of the Campus Front of India(CFI) in Mangaluru and demanded their freedom to wear the hijab.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is still in the process of considering the case.
