Karnataka’s Hijab Line: Finally Back

Students arrive at Maharani College in Bengaluru. File Image | Photo credit: Murali Kumar K

At a so-called “emergency” press conference last week Karnataka School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa has announced the repeal of the Uniforms in Schools and Pre-University Colleges Regulations 2022. The controversial order of the previous BJP government led to girls donning hijab ban on entering classrooms. It started with six muslim girls in hijab they were prevented from entering their classroom in the coastal town of Udupi, quickly spread across the state and reached the High Court and finally the Supreme Court.

Although the recall was a manifesto promise of the Congress, the government had been dealing with it for almost three years. In fact, months after the party’s stellar victory in the 2023 elections, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had made a public statement that people could “wear what they want, eat what they want”, only to clarify the next day that no formal order had been issued and the government was only considering an appeal after a discussion with officials.

Published – 25 May 2026 0:25 AM IST