Muslim female students of Janta Inter College in Mahua, Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district, alleged that they were denied entry into the college for wearing hijab. On Monday, the students were asked to return home and bring their parents because they were wearing hijab.
After the morning prayer at the college on Monday, Principal Shivendra Pal Singh sent the students wearing hijab home and asked them to return with their parents the next day.
The issue gained public attention when someone captured the principal’s actions on their phone and posted it on social media.
The principal told the Muslim students that he would allow the girls to come to school after the removal of their hijab and wearing a dupatta. If someone comes wearing a burqa or hijab, she will be sent back home, the college officials also said.
As the video of the incident went viral on social media, the district authorities took cognisance of the matter. A DIOS (District Inspector of Schools) Jai Karan Yadav visited the college and initiated an inquiry into the matter.
This incident comes days after the Supreme Court of India recently partially upheld an order by a private college in Mumbai that had banned hijabs on its premises. The top court also strongly opposed the hijab ban, asking the college authorities, “Where is the question of empowering women by enforcing your dress code?”
