Minister for Primary and Secondary Education B.C. Nagesh has said that students wearing hijab will not be allowed to write the SSLC examination, beginning on Monday, irrespective of whether they are repeaters, private candidates, or those from schools where hijab is part of the uniform.
“Even if hijab is part of the uniform as prescribed in some schools, students have to take the examination without wearing the headscarf. The notification we issued earlier this year clearly stated that no cloth that represents religious identity can be part of the uniform. The same has been upheld by the Karnataka High Court,” the Minister told The Hindu over the phone on Sunday .
“The Government’s notification and the court order are clear. The matter went to the Supreme Court too, where the issue is yet to be taken up for hearing even though the petitioners mentioned that the exam was approaching”, the Minister said.
