CFI organises girls conference in Mangaluru, denied permission for a rally

However, before the rally could start, Mangaluru police denied permission to the thousands of students who had gathered at the Town hall. They were persuaded to take buses to the Town Hall.

Denial of rights

Sawad Kallarpe, a CFI state leader, told South First, “Not permitting the rally was a denial of our fundamental right. The programme aimed at having discussion on a range of issues, including hijab restrictions, bulli bai controversy, etc.”

The CFI is the student wing of the Popular Front of India (PFI) which enjoys influence in coastal Karnataka and has been actively involved in the protests against the banning of hijab in schools and colleges.

During hijab protests, PFI claimed to have taken a stand against Hindutva forces.

It was in coastal Karnataka that girls were first prevented from attending classes wearing a hijab (head scarf).

The controversy soon spread to several districts of the state and continued for a few months.

Hijab controversy timeline

In December 2020, a government school in Udupi district barred six students from entering the classroom because they were wearing hijabs.

In January 2022, the dispute pertaining to school uniforms continued and similar instances occurred followed by groups of Hindu students staging counter-protests by demanding they be allowed to wear saffron scarves.

The controversy spread and on 3 January, Hindu students of the Government First Grade College in Koppa, Chikmagalur staged a protest with saffron scarves.

On 5 February, 2022, the Karnataka government issued an order that made it compulsory for students to wear the prescribed uniforms, with no exceptions being made for the hijab.

Petitions were filed on behalf of hijab wearing students in the high court.

On 8 February, the government closed high schools and colleges for three days due to protests and disputes over the wearing of the hijab.

On 10 February, the high court issued an interim order restraining all students from wearing any form of religious attire.

After reopening of the schools on 14 February, the court’s interim order was implemented.

The High court delivered its verdict on 15 March, 2022, upholding the restrictions on hijab. The court ruled that the hijab is not an essential religious practice in Islam.

Pending in the Supreme Court

The matter is now reached the Supreme Court.

However, appeals challenging Karnataka High Court’s ruling have been in limbo for several months.

Filed on behalf of the affected girl students, the petitions question whether the state had the power to interfere if a student wore a hijab to an educational institution without causing any harm to others and in the belief that it was a part of her religious practice.