Karnataka bans clothes that disturb harmony, public order

The Karnataka government has ordered a ban on clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public order in schools and colleges. Invoking Section 133 (2) of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983, the order of the education department (pre-university) stated that students will have to wear the dress chosen by the college development committee or the appellate committee of the administrative board of pre-university colleges which come under the pre-university education department. "In the event of administrative committee not selecting a uniform, clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public law and order should not be worn," the government order said.The order comes days before a scheduled hearing in the Karnataka High Court over the issue.

The  government said the directive was for the "benefit of all students", noting that a common uniform ensures that they belong to a common family and behave in a manner that leaves no room for discrimination. The purpose of the Act is “to provide for the planned development of educational institutions, inculcation of healthy educational practice, maintenance and improvement in the standards of education and better organisation discipline and control over educational institutions in the State with a view to fostering the harmonious development of the mental and physical faculties of students and cultivating a scientific and secular outlook through education”.

The row over the ban on wearing hijab to the classroom was initially restricted to Udupi and Chikmagalur but has now spread to other parts of the state.Describing the row as a “systematic conspiracy”, V Sunil Kumar, minister for Kannada and culture, said a hijab or a burqa can be worn from home to college, but on entering the classroom, everyone should be in uniform.