Kerala Govt Tells Court: Banning Hijab in School Denies Girl’s Right to Secular Education

KOCHI: (Oct 24) The Kerala government told the High Court on Friday that not allowing a Muslim girl to wear her religious headscarf (hijab) to school is a serious problem. The government said this ban “attacks” her right to privacy and self-respect, and it “denies her the right to a non-religious education” (secular education).

The government argued that a girl’s right to wear a headscarf inside and outside her home “does not stop at the school gate.”

The government made these points in a written statement (affidavit) to the court. This statement was a response to a petition filed by St. Rita’s Public School, a church-run school in Palluruthy. The school had challenged an order from the General Education Department, which told the school to let the Muslim girl attend classes while wearing her hijab.

With input from PTI

For more details: Navamalayalam.com