Karnataka college revises decision, allows Sikh girl to wear turban

The college in a statement said that the move to revise the decision was taken after they understood “her circumstances” following the exchange with her parents. 

Karnataka college revises decision, allows Sikh girl to wear turban

Two days after Mount Carmel PU College barred an amritdhari Sikh student from wearing a turban to class, the college has not revised its decision. The college in a statement said that the move to revise the decision was taken after they understood “her circumstances” following the exchange with her parents. 

On Tuesday,  Mount Carmel PU College had asked the girl to take exams without her turban in the “interest of parity” after two hijab-clad students alleged they were singled out for wearing religious garments. As per the report, the two students were pulled up by an invigilator for wearing hijabs during exams at a time when the Karnataka High Court is hearing petitions challenging a February 4 state government order that obliquely backed a ban on hijabs prescribed by a government college in Udupi. 

The Bengaluru college said the Sikh girl’s parents explained to them why the turban was intrinsic to her after her baptism, and she was thus allowed to wear it to class. “The incident happened after girls prevented from wearing the hijab pointed to another student wearing a turban. In the interest of parity, the Sikh girl was asked about her religious symbol. She explained that the turban was necessary as she had been baptised,” the college said in a statement to ThePrint.

“Her father wrote to the PUC (pre-university college) administration confirming this. We understood the circumstances and supported her decision to wear a turban.”

College authorities said the email exchange with her parents was cordial. “The matter should have ended there, as the student in question continues to attend class even today, wearing her turban to class,” the statement added. 

Read More:

• After hijab row, Karnataka college ask Sikh girl to remove turban

• Hijab Row: Prayers are unusual, Counsel for Udupi PU College in HC

• CUCET 2022: How it will change the admission process in major Universities?