Karnataka CM says saffron shawls not allowed in classrooms after hijab order revoked

Mohammed Saad Belgami of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Karnataka welcomed the decision, saying it would help Muslim girls continue education without fear, and urged peaceful implementation.

Karnataka BJP president B. Y. Vijayendra criticized the withdrawal of the disciplined uniform rule as politically motivated and said it undermines equality and unity in educational spaces.

Union minister Pralhad Joshi questioned why the government acted while the matter remained pending before the Supreme Court, arguing that school uniform policies are meant to foster equality and accusing the Congress government of bringing religion into education.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said saffron shawls would not be allowed in educational institutions, while hijabs, turbans, and other existing practices could be worn with uniforms; he emphasised that no new forms of attire would be permitted.

The Department of School Education and Literacy issued an order revoking the 2022 directive and allowing students to wear limited traditional and faith-based attire such as hijabs and turbans along with their prescribed uniforms in schools and pre-university colleges in Karnataka; the policy limits attire to practices that already exist.

The Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on the hijab case, with one judge upholding the restrictions and the other ruling in favor of the petitioners. The matter was referred to a larger bench and remained pending.

The Karnataka government issued an order directing students to follow the uniforms prescribed by educational institutions; where no official uniform existed, students were instructed to wear clothing consistent with equality, integrity and public order.

The controversy first emerged at a government pre-university college in Udupi, where a group of Muslim students said they had been barred from classrooms because they wore hijabs.