Girl says she was denied entry to exam hall for wearing headscarf

SULLIA LAW COLLEGE

Girl says she was denied entry to exam hall for wearing headscarf

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mangaluru:  18.04.2021 

An uneasy calm prevailed at KVG Law College in Sullia, Dakshina Kannada, on Saturday after a student was allegedly not allowed to appear for an examination while wearing a headscarf.

Sabna, a first-year law student, demanded that she be allowed to write the examination while wearing a headscarf. She urged the authorities to allow her to do so after conducting a thorough check, if necessary. Her parents, along with leaders from the Campus Front of India (CFI), discussed the issue with the principal. Later, the student blamed the college for not allowing her to write the exam.

Mohammed Sadik, state president, CFI, said initially the principal refused and the girl couldn’t appear for two exams. “We arranged a protest and the media was also informed, after which the principal said she can wear a headscarf. The college was not strict with the rules, ever since classes began about three months ago, he said.

Udaya Krishna, principal, said students have to wear uniform, and at the time of admission, they also sign an undertaking that they will follow the dress code. This year, due to the pandemic, and since classes resumed only after January, the dress code rules were not implemented strictly.

“On Friday, three students came to my chamber, seeking permission to wear their headscarf. Two of them agreed to write without headscarf, but one girl refused to do so. On Saturday, despite asking her to take the hall ticket and write the exam, she walked out along with her parents, and is now blaming the college of denying permission to appear for the exam,” he said.

Despite asking her to appear for the exam, she walked out, and is now blaming the college, the principal said