Karnataka Government Withdraws 2022 Hijab Ban in Schools and Colleges

The Government of Karnataka has officially withdrawn the controversial 2022 order that effectively led to restrictions on wearing hijab in schools and colleges across the state.

Under the new directive issued by the government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, students will now be allowed to wear religious symbols and attire such as hijab, kalava, rudraksha, and janeu, provided they comply with the discipline and rules of educational institutions.

The move reverses the policy introduced during the tenure of the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka. In February 2022, the then BJP-led administration had issued an order making it mandatory for students in government pre-university colleges to follow prescribed uniforms.

The earlier order stated that clothing which could disturb “equality, unity, and public order” would not be permitted. Following the directive, several government educational institutions barred students wearing hijab from entering classrooms, triggering widespread protests and a national debate on religious freedom and dress codes in educational institutions.

The issue had also reached the courts and sparked political and social discussions across the country.

With the latest decision, the Siddaramaiah government has effectively rolled back the restrictions imposed during the previous administration, while emphasizing that educational discipline and institutional norms must still be maintained.

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