Fact Check: Has Karnataka Lifted Hijab Ban In Educational Institutes? Here’s The Truth

On March 15, 2022, Karnataka High Court upheld the ban on hijab by educational institutes. The court ruled that hijab is not an essential religious practice under Islam and, hence, it is not protected by Article 25 of the Constitution.

In the above context, many social media users are sharing a post claiming that hijab has been allowed on college campuses in Karnataka. The post reads, “कर्नाटक में कॉलेज ने हटाया ड्रेस कोड, अब छात्राएं हिजाब पहनकर आ सकेंगी क्लास में।” (English translation, “College removed dress code in Karnataka, Now the students will be able to come to the class wearing hijab.”)

The link to the post can be seen here.

FACT CHECK

NewsMobile did a fact-check and found the claim to be fake.

We searched with appropriate keywords on Google but could not find any media report  suggesting hijab ban has been uplifted in Karnataka.

A report published by The Indian Express on March 16, 2022, read, “Stating that wearing the hijab is not an essential religious practice in Islam and freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution is subject to reasonable restrictions, a full bench of the Karnataka High Court dismissed a batch of petitions filed by Muslim girls studying in pre-university colleges in Udupi seeking the right to wear hijabs in classrooms.”

Another report published by Business Today on March 24, 2022, suggests that Supreme Court refused to urgently hear the petition challenging Karnataka High Court verdict on hijab ban. The report read, “The Supreme Court refused to accord urgent hearing on the pleas challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict which dismissed the petitions seeking permission to wear hijab inside the classroom and stated that the headscarf is not a part of the essential religious practice in Islam.”

Karnataka Education Minister BC Nagesh on April 19, 2022, said, “Wherever uniform has been prescribed students must follow that. We have sent circular that only uniform will be allowed.”

Hence, we can ascertain that the viral post is fake.