Two students, protesting in favor of the hijab walked out of the Karnataka PUC 2nd or class 12 board exam on Friday. Two protesting students identified as Resham and Aliya reached the exam center wearing hijab (headscarf) which has been banned from educational institutes, as per the High Court.
The two students were to take the exam at Vidyodaya PU College in Udupi where they reportedly asked the authorities to allow them to take exams wearing hijab, however, after a discussion for about 45 minutes the two were not allowed. The Court had earlier upheld the state government’s ban on hijab in educational institutes.
As there is a ban on hijab or any cloth linked to religious identity, the authorities made arrangements at exam centers for the Muslim girls to remove their head scarves before entering the exam halls. Muslim girls who turned up at the examination center wearing hijab said they will remove it inside the separate enclosure and will wear it again after the exam is over.
“As hijab is not allowed inside examination hall for students, to be morally right, we’re not forcing teachers who insist on wearing hijab to take up exam duty. We gave them the option to take exam duty or not,” Karnataka Primary & Secondary Education Minister BC Nagesh told ANI.
Earlier, during the class 10 board exams, an invigilator was suspended for wearing a hijab while inside the Karnataka SSLC exam centre. The Karnataka government had asked students to follow uniform guidelines in board exams which do not include hijab
“Hijab is important and so is writing and passing the exam. Our future depends on our exam results,” a Muslim girl student told reporters in Bengaluru. The Karnataka High Court had last month upheld the order of the state government banning wearing clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public order in schools and colleges, which a section of Muslim girls had challenged in the court.
Talking to CNN News18 the minister said, “Govt has not received any demand related to Hijab. Every citizen has the right to protest. Reshma might have protested. But, HC has clearly given a judgement.”
April 22 was the first day of the Karnataka class 12 board exams. Students deciding not to write exams today might not have another chance at their boards.
A total of 6,84,255 students have enrolled for the Karnataka PUC exams. There are 6,00,519 regular students, 61,808 repeaters and 21,928 private candidates. Exams are being held at 1,076 centers across the state.
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