Hijab Row | 'Enforcing Uniformity At The Cost Of Religious Beliefs In Stark Contrast To Plurality': NALSAR Students, Alumni Condemn Discriminatory Actions In Karnataka

The Executive Council of the Student Bar Council, a group of alumni and students of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad has expressed their condemnation over the discriminatory actions of the State Government and several educational institutions in Karnataka.

In a statement released recently, they have also communicated that they stand in solidarity with the Muslim women who have been targetted at educational institutions: 

"We stand in solidarity with Muslim women who have been prevented from accessing educational institutions based on their religious beliefs. Reported incidents of large mobs harassing female students, barging into classrooms, and communalising education spaces undermine the safety, equality, and inclusivity that educational spaces are meant to assure," the statement reads. 

It has also been stated that a University is a space where students are given the opportunity to flourish and exercise their agency and that this opportunity stands threatened when their right to choose and express themselves is attacked.

"Enforcing uniformity at the cost of a community's religious beliefs and the right to access educational spaces stands in stark opposition to the multiculturalism and plurality that our country prides itself on."

They have also expressed their concern over attempts to convert educational spaces to cites for communal politics:

"As fellow students, the attempt to make educational institutions a site for communal politics is a matter of grave concern for us. As law students and graduates, we believe that the ban on hijabs in educational institutions discriminates against Muslim women and is antithetical to substantive equality protected by the Indian Constitution."

The actions of multiple institutions and the government are not only violative of fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution but are also a direct affront to the idea of Constitutional Morality. Governmental actions must not offend principles of personal liberty and equality, it added. 

As such, they have urged the Karnataka Government to take measures to prevent these obstacles to girls' education at the earliest, ensuring that educational spaces are safe, accessible and allow equal and dignified participation for all students.

Click Here To Read/Download The Statement