The Karnataka state government has already ordered to shut down schools and colleges for three days after protests erupted in response to some educational institutions banning the entry of students wearing hijab inside the classroom. The matter is now referred to the Karnataka High Court and the bench of three judges will resume the hearing over the JHijab row on Thursday. Ahead of the hearing in the Karnataka High Court, here is the Hijab row timeline and how the controversy unfolded across India:
Hijab Row Timeline
December 31: The Hijab row time goes back to December 2021. The hijab row first came into the limelight in December when four students were denied entry into the classroom for wearing hijab (headscarf). The students accused Principal Rudra Gowda of the pre-university college of taking such a step and also claimed that they were made to sit outside of the classroom at the stairs and even marked them absent. However, the Principal denied the claims of the students and had stated that the students made the allegations under the influence of some vested interest groups. Gowda said the rule was being followed to ensure uniformity in classrooms.
January 1: A meeting organized at the college decided to allow students wear Hijab inside college premises, however not during the class
January 3: A section of college students in Karnataka's Koppa district wore saffron scarves protesting allegedly against allowing Muslim women to wear hijab inside the classroom. The students of the government-run college in Balagadi village claimed that if hijab was allowed inside, then saffron scarves should be allowed too.
January 13: Eight students from Government PU College for Girls, Udupi, decide to attend classes only if they are allowed to wear hijab. MLA Raghupathi Bhat writes to PU director. Students claim the undertaking they signed at the time of admission spoke only about wearing uniforms and identity cards
January 25: Karnataka government decides to set up expert committee to decide on uniform and dress code. It directs colleges in Udupi to maintain status quo till panel takes a final decision. On January 28, even as the college betterment committee at the Government PU College for Girls starts discussions with Muslim leaders and parents to end the hijab crisis, Campus Front of India states it will continue to support the girls
January 31: MLA Raghupathi Bhat says action will be initiated against students who enter classrooms wearing hijab
January 31: A Muslim girl filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court seeking a declaration that wearing a hijab is a fundamental right. The plea stated that the Constitution guarantees the Freedom of Conscience and the right to profess, practise and propagate religion.
February 2: Kundapur Government PU college closed its gates on students wearing hijab after Hindu students wore saffron scarves. The video of the girl students pleading with the principal to let them attend classes went viral. On the same day, the hijab row also broke out at Bhadravati in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district.
February 4: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagan (DMK) MP Senthil Kumar, representing Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri constituency, raised the Karnataka hijab row in Parliament. Senthil sought to know why students wearing hijab were not allowed to attend classes. He urged the Centre to take action in the matter.
February 8: Karnataka State government declares 3-day holiday from Wednesday as high court hears petition filed by students
February 9: Justice Krishna S Dixit of Karantaka High Court referred the matter to a larger bench, asking the petitioners to seek interim relief after a decision is taken by the Chief Justice.
February 9: The Karnataka High Court formed a bench of three senior judges led by the Chief Justice to hear the Hijab row plea. The 3-judge bench will be led by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit who had already presided on the matter, and Justice J M Khazi.