Girl moves court against college’s ‘harassment’ for wearing hijab
Mumbai: 23.05.2018
A homeopathy student barred from attending college because she wears the hijab (headscarf) has moved court saying she is now being prevented from appearing for repeater exams in June because of poor attendance.
Bandra resident Fakeha Badami enrolled in the bachelor of homeopathy medicine and surgery course in Sai Homeopathic Medical College, Bhiwandi, in 2016. The college, affiliated to the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), didn’t allow her to attend lectures because she wears the hijab. The ministry of AYUSH (ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homeopathy) directed the college to resolve the issue, saying “it cannot compel a student to not wear the hijab since it is disrespect to social justice”.
MUHS tried to help Fakeha by writing to the state medical education and drugs department to know if there was any regulation barring Muslim students from wearing the hijab. It said she should be allowed to attend college. But the college did not budge.
By the time Fakeha approached the high court the first time, in November 2017, the college exams were over. On March 12, 2018 the college denied it was not allowing her to attend lectures. It told the HC it will accommodate her in repeater lectures (which have begun). The college was directed to approach MUHS for Fakeha and seek its advice on rules and regulations.
Fakeha was allowed to attend lectures on March 19 only upon producing a copy of the HC’s order. On March 28, the college wrote to MUHS asking if Fakeha should be allowed to appear for the repeater exams in view of her attendance of “only six days”. MUHS replied on April 11, saying she “does not meet the mandatory attendance criteria”. This prompted her to approach the HC again. TNN
Mumbai: 23.05.2018
A homeopathy student barred from attending college because she wears the hijab (headscarf) has moved court saying she is now being prevented from appearing for repeater exams in June because of poor attendance.
Bandra resident Fakeha Badami enrolled in the bachelor of homeopathy medicine and surgery course in Sai Homeopathic Medical College, Bhiwandi, in 2016. The college, affiliated to the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), didn’t allow her to attend lectures because she wears the hijab. The ministry of AYUSH (ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homeopathy) directed the college to resolve the issue, saying “it cannot compel a student to not wear the hijab since it is disrespect to social justice”.
MUHS tried to help Fakeha by writing to the state medical education and drugs department to know if there was any regulation barring Muslim students from wearing the hijab. It said she should be allowed to attend college. But the college did not budge.
By the time Fakeha approached the high court the first time, in November 2017, the college exams were over. On March 12, 2018 the college denied it was not allowing her to attend lectures. It told the HC it will accommodate her in repeater lectures (which have begun). The college was directed to approach MUHS for Fakeha and seek its advice on rules and regulations.
Fakeha was allowed to attend lectures on March 19 only upon producing a copy of the HC’s order. On March 28, the college wrote to MUHS asking if Fakeha should be allowed to appear for the repeater exams in view of her attendance of “only six days”. MUHS replied on April 11, saying she “does not meet the mandatory attendance criteria”. This prompted her to approach the HC again. TNN
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