Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 27: In the light of the controversy over a few Muslim girls in the Government Women's PU college insisting on wearing Hijab, the education department is taking steps to put together rules governing the Hijabs and dress code prevalent in colleges in different states.

As the issue that cropped up in a college in a town has blown up into a communal issue, the department has not taken any decision as such on this issue. It has instructed the college here to maintain status quo regarding uniform code till the issue reaches its logical end.

There is  no compulsion to wear uniforms in PU colleges in the state. But  the Hijab row in city's college created a debate on the prescribed dress code in educational institutes. It is said that the principal of the PU college had asked the girls in question to stick to the standard uniform code.Six of the girl students then started demanding permission to wear the clothes of their faith.

It has now been decided to form a high level committee to verify code of conduct on uniforms prevalent in PU colleges in various states, study judgements of courts and high courts, and the desirability of prescribing either uniforms or code of conduct for all the PU college students in the state, prepare a report, and make recommendations. The government thereafter will take further action. Till then it has asked the students of the said college to maintain status quo in the matter.