In a major policy shift that aims to balance institutional discipline with constitutional freedoms, the Karnataka Government has officially withdrawn its contentious February 2022 order that prohibited the wearing of hijab and other religious symbols in schools and pre-university colleges across the state.
The new circular, issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy on Wednesday, effectively nullifies the previous ban. It now permits students to wear "limited traditional and faith-based symbols" alongside their prescribed uniforms. These permitted symbols include the Hijab, Turban (Pete), Sacred Thread (Janivara), Shivadara, and Rudraksha.
The original Government Order (GO), dated February 5, 2022, had directed educational institutions to strictly enforce uniforms, which led to students being barred from classrooms for wearing the hijab. This move triggered nationwide protests and a intense legal battle that reached the highest levels of the judiciary.
In its latest notification, the state government clarified its stance on secularism. The preamble to the order notes that secularism does not mean being against individual beliefs; rather, it signifies equal respect for all religions and institutional impartiality. The government stated that "institutional discipline and orderliness can be preserved without mandatorily prohibiting limited traditional and practice-based symbols that students commonly wear."
The new order provides clear instructions to School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs), College Development Committees (CDCs), and institutional heads:
- No Denial of Rights: No student wearing permitted religious symbols shall be denied admission, progress, examination, or participation in any academic or competitive activities.
- Non-Coercion: Institutions are strictly prohibited from compelling students to remove these symbols. Similarly, no authority may forcibly remove them.
- Dignity and Respect: The order explicitly directs that students should not be humiliated, demeaned, or subjected to insulting behavior for following their traditions.
- Examination Exception: A limited exception remains for national and state-level examinations where specific dress code rules may be applied by the relevant testing authorities to ensure exam integrity.
The government also invoked the philosophy of the 12th-century social reformer Basavanna, quoting his principle of ‘Iva Nammave’ (They are ours), to emphasize a culture of inclusion and belonging within the educational system.
The withdrawal comes while the legal status of the previous ban remains technically unsettled at the judicial level. In March 2022, the Karnataka High Court had upheld the ban, ruling that wearing the hijab is not an "essential religious practice" in Islam protected under Article 25 of the Constitution.
However, when this was challenged in the Supreme Court, a two-judge bench delivered a split verdict. One judge favored upholding the ban to maintain uniformity, while the other emphasized the right to education and personal choice. Due to this split, the matter was referred to a larger bench, where it has been pending ever since.
Recently, the High Court also issued notice to the State Government regarding a PIL that challenged the restriction of students wearing "sacred threads" during CET 2025 examinations.
By permitting these symbols, the Karnataka government aims to ensure that the implementation of uniform rules is free from religious and communal discrimination. The new circular emphasizes that while the uniform remains the standard, the inclusion of small, traditional symbols is a step toward making education accessible to all sections of society without compromising their faith.
This decision is expected to bring relief to thousands of students who were previously caught between their religious identity and their right to education.