Hijab row: St Philomena’s College in Mysuru relaxes uniform rule to let students attend practical exams; other colleges to follow?

Shilpa P | NT

After a few students of St Philomena’s College in Mysuru, were reluctant to remove the hijab they were wearing on Wednesday and Thursday before entering the exam centre, the college management temporarily relaxed the unifor m rule. The college, in fact, permitted its students in civil dress, so none would miss their practical exams. This will be till the High Court announces its verdict over the writ petition filed over the matter.

Deputy Director Pre University, Mysuru district, Srinivasmur thy D K confirmed this to News Trail.

MF Kaleem of Responsible Citizens’ Voice said, “About 15-16 students who did not want to remove the hijab were not allowed to enter the examination hall to attend their practical exams on Thursday. They came out of the college campus and protested when they were asked to take off their headgear. Following this, Responsible Citizens’ Voice and the PUCL approached Deputy Commissioner Dr Bagadi Gautam and DDPU Srinivasmurthy DK and submitted a memorandum supporting students in this regard.

They said that as it is the students had lagged behind in their studies due to the pandemic. “When the education of students has already suffered over the past two years, their education should alone be the priority now. The authorities promised to resolve the issue. On Friday morning, the management of St Philomena’s College held a meeting and decided to relax the rule related to uniform and permit the students to wear a dress of their choice until the final verdict of the HC is announced, to ensure their practical examinations are not hampered,” he added.

Around 5 per cent of the students studying in the college belong to the minority community. Those students who came wearing a hijab on Wednesday were made to sit in a separate room and counselled and convinced. Once they were convinced to remove the hijab, they were allowed to attend classes. Six students who were not convinced returned home on the day, according to sources.

192 stay away from college in Rajiv Nagar
As many as 192 students of Government PU College in Rajiv Nagar where practical exams are not going on have decided not to attend college until the final verdict of the High Court is out. “On Wednesday, only 14 students came to the college and since they did not want to remove the hijab, they returned home with their parents. They have decided not to attend college until the court announces its verdict,” DDPU, Srinivasmurthy DK said.