Kerala HC allows student to wear hijab in school | Kochi News
Kochi: High court has closed the petition filed by the manager of St Rita’s Public School, Palluruthy, challenging a notice issued by the deputy director of education (DDE), Ernakulam, directing the school authorities to permit a girl student to attend classes wearing a headscarf as part of her religious practice.A bench of Justice V G Arun closed the petition after recording the submission made by the parents of the girl student that they had decided to discontinue her studies at the school and admit her to another institution. The court observed that, in light of this submission, there was no need to examine the contentious issues raised in the case.During hearing, the state attorney also submitted that, in view of the parents’ decision, the state did not intend to precipitate the issue any further. Accordingly, the bench closed the petition with the observation that it was “happy to note that better sense has prevailed and that, ultimately, fraternity, one of the foundational principles on which the edifice of our Constitution is built, remains strong.”The controversy arose after the school authorities questioned a girl student for attending classes wearing a hijab, which violated the school’s prescribed uniform dress code. The incident reportedly led to an altercation on Oct 10, during which the student’s father, accompanied by several others, allegedly entered the school premises and assaulted security personnel. On Oct 14, acting on a complaint filed by the girl’s father, the DDE issued a notice directing the school authorities to allow the student to attend classes wearing a hijab, prompting the school manager to approach HC.
