Pics by Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal
MANGALORE, Aug 19 (The Hindu): Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University K.M. Kaveriappa has demanded the SVS Government-aided Degree College, Bantwal, to provide a detailed report to him explaining the reasons behind banning Muslim girls from wearing the veil on the campus. The Vice-Chancellor’s action was prompted by a complaint on Tuesday from Aysha Ashmin, a first year B.Com student of the College.
In her complaint, Ashmin has blamed the college authorities for preventing her from exercising her religious beliefs.
Aysha with her father Mohammed
Kaveriappa told that he had forwarded the complaint to the college authorities along with his remarks and was awaiting an explanation from them.
He said that he needed to verify his own jurisdiction on the matter.
Matter of discipline?
“As far as discipline is concerned, the university does not have jurisdiction over colleges.
Aided colleges can independently frame their own rules,” he said.
Kaveriappa said that it was a matter that could be competently addressed by the Department of Collegiate Education.
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Mangalore: V-C Assures Aysha Admission to Other College
TNN
Mangalore, Aug 19: Aysha Asmin will be able to pursue her education at a college of her choice, after obtaining No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Sri
Venkatarama Swamy (SVS) College in Bantwal.
Mangalore University vice-chancellor Prof K M Kaveriappa assured Aysha on Tuesday that he would "try his best to get admission in two of the colleges she preferred to study".
Kaveriappa told that on her own decision, Aysha did not want to continue in SVS. Aysha had narrowed down to Heera College (where she did her PU) in the outskirts of the city and Balmatta Government College for Women.
"I have told her not to worry about admissions being closed or seats being full. I will try my best to get her admitted to a college", the V-C assured. Regarding action against college, the V-C said, it would be dealt separately after getting a reply from the college.
Meanwhile, Aysha, who has scored 78% in her PU, was happy that she would be able to pursue her education. "I want to do chartered accountancy", she says.
But Students Islamic Organization (SIO) is not overjoyed. SIO Western region president Shabbir Ahamed said, the injustice happening to Muslims in educational institutions (here and all over the state) has not been addressed. "Such unfair practice should stop. We would not have objected if there was a dress code (uniform). When students have the freedom to wear what they want, this is not done", said Shabbir.
SIO will appeal to the district administration and the governor for justice. "Though we don't trust the government, we believe in the process of law", he said.
Shabbir was also shocked that the college management was put under pressure by Saffron units for this act. "She attended the college for a month (from July 11) without any problem. Why suddenly they restricted her wearing it?" he questioned.
Bantwal: We Don't Want Trouble in College: Principal
Bantwal, Aug 19: "We impart education. We don't want any communal conflagration at our (educational) institution", said Ganesh Prabhu, correspondent of
Sri Venkatarama Swamy (SVS) College in Bantwal.
A first year BCom student was told by the college management not to attend the classes till she conforms to the rules and regulations of the college, which is not to display her religious identity, the head scarf.
He admitted that the decision was taken after the students created problems regarding Aysha wearing a head scarf. "For the record, we don't allow any student to wear a dress which identifies his/her religion, It has been the college policy since its inception four decades back", Prabhu told TOI, recalling an incident a decade back where his son too was made to remove a saffron shawl before entering the campus.
"Our rules and regulations about dress are simple. No mini skirt, jeans, revealing dress or dress which indicates ones religious affiliation", said college principal Seetaram Mayya, stressing that they have not even allowed even students who wear mala for Shabarimala.
Regarding Aysha, Mayya said, "We tolerated her stubbornness for some time. We tried to get the message through a Muslim lecturer here but in vain. We have given her sufficient warning and we don't want a situation (communal) here."
Observing that other students in college said if Aysha was allowed to wear a scarf they would come with saffron shawls, Prabhu took the argument to extremes saying, "Tomorrow a student may come naked saying it's his religious belief. Can we allow it?"
Recently a lady lecturer had resigned after she was told not to wear the scarf. "The students were feeling uneasy and they complained. The management told her to not to wear the scarf, but she refused and quit", said a source.
Earlier: