No Hijab During Board Exams: Karnataka Govt.

Govt. refuses to lift the ban from wearing hijab.

Taking notes from the hijab controversy in Karnataka, the State Govt. has refused to budge on the hijab ban even for the sake of students due to taking their board exams.

In an exclusive report by NDTV, BC Nagesh, the state's Minister for primary and secondary education, said that there won't be any provisions or exceptions made for those who want to wear hijab. Everyone must follow the High Court's order upholding the ban on hijab and take the exam.

While adding more specifications, the state minister said, "There won't be any concession. The students must follow the high court's judgment. No one will be allowed to take their exams with their hijabs. If the students realize their mistake, they will be allowed to take supplementary exams two months after the board exams, but again, without the hijab."

Earlier today, the Karnataka government's stance has placed many Muslim students in a quandary with the Supreme Court also rejecting an appeal for an early hearing on the hijab row.

Citing exams, the students had sought immediate intervention by the court. In their appeal, they said they were going to miss out on the board exams if the ban on headscarves is enforced. The top court, however, asked the students not to "sensationalize" the issue and refused to give them a date for a hearing.

In its order last week, the Karnataka High Court had refused to lift the state government's ban on hijab. It dismissed the students' petition, saying hijab is "not an essential practice" in Islam.

The students had contended that the hijab has protection under Article 25 of the Constitution which guarantees religious freedom.

Taking notes from the petition, the court also spoke in favor of the idea of homogeneity, which has been opposed by many in the Muslim community, who have questioned why any court should take up the role of the clergy.