Kerala HC refuses to stay state government’s order allowing Muslim girl to wear hijab to school

The Kerala High Court on Friday refused to stay a directive from the Deputy Director of Education, Ernakulam, allowing a Class 8 Muslim student at St Rita’s Public School, a Christian-managed school in Palluruthy affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education, to attend classes wearing a hijab, The Hindu reported.

However, the court sought the state’s response to a plea by the school’s manager, who requested a stay on the deputy director’s directive and questioned whether the government had the authority to issue such an order to CBSE-affiliated schools.

A dispute over the school’s uniform policy began on October 8, when the student started coming to school wearing a hijab. The student had joined the school in June.

The school authorities denied her permission to wear the hijab and sought an explanation from the child’s parents about the “violation” of the uniform policy.

In response, the father, accompanied by more than six others, allegedly “unlawfully and forcefully trespassed into the school premises and manhandled the security personnel” who tried to prevent their entry, The Hindu quoted the school authorities as submitting in their petition.

The school had earlier approached the High Court seeking police protection for its management, staff and students following alleged threats and an attempted mob intrusion, which was granted.

In its recent petition, the school...

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