Media Release

Udupi, May 14: Former Udupi MLA K Raghupathi Bhat has urged the Karnataka government to reconsider its recent order allowing students to wear limited traditional and religious symbols, including hijab, along with prescribed uniforms in schools and pre-university colleges.

In a press statement, Bhat said education should contribute to the holistic development of students and strengthen constitutional values, with learning remaining the primary objective in educational institutions. He stated that no issue should be allowed to create confusion or discrimination among students.

Emphasising equality, Bhat said all students in private, government, and aided educational institutions should appear alike inside classrooms and should not violate the uniform code. He criticised the school education department’s decision to withdraw the earlier order that had prohibited hijab inside classrooms and examination halls in schools and pre-university colleges.

Referring to the earlier hijab controversy in Udupi, Bhat said six students of the Government Girls’ Pre-University College in Udupi had initially attended classes by following the institution’s uniform rules. However, after nearly one-and-a-half years, they allegedly created controversy by demanding permission to wear hijab inside classrooms, leading to unrest across the state and country.

He claimed that the controversy disrupted the education system and law and order situation, while some communal organisations attempted to disturb peace by exploiting the issue.

Bhat reiterated that his stand has remained unchanged since the beginning — that uniform rules must be strictly followed inside classrooms. He pointed out that the previous order permitted wearing hijab within the school campus, corridors, and compound areas, but not inside classrooms or examination halls.

“Inside the classroom, all students are equal. Students should appear uniformly without displaying differences that may create discrimination among others,” he stated.

Bhat further urged the state government to prioritise uniform dress codes inside classrooms and examination halls to ensure equality and avoid visible distinctions among students.