New Delhi: In the wake of the raging hijab controversy, Karnataka government has announced that the degree and diploma colleges will remain shut till February 16.
According to the government order issued on Friday, universities belonging to the department of Higher Education and the colleges under the Department of Collegiate and Technical Education (DCTE), will remain closed till next Wednesday due to the ongoing Hijab row.
However, the examinations and online classes will be held as per the schedule, state Higher Education Minister CN Ashwath Narayan said in a statement.
The educational institutions were supposed to remain shut from February 9 to 11, however, as a precautionary measure, the period has been extended, Narayan said, adding that this is applicable for the government, aided, unaided degree colleges, diploma, and engineering colleges across the state.
Earlier, both Primary and Secondary Education Minister BC Nagesh and Home Minister Araga Jnanendra indicated that a decision on reopening of Pre-University and Degree (higher education) Colleges will be taken on February 14.
The Karnataka government had on Thursday decided to resume classes for high school students up to class 10 from February 14, and for Pre-University and Degree Colleges thereafter.
Meanwhile, the high court, in its interim order on Friday, directed students not to insist on wearing any cloth on campuses of educational institutions that could create trouble.
Notably, the apex court on Friday rejected an urgent hearing on the hijab row, saying it "will interfere only at an appropriate time." A girl in Karnataka had approached the Supreme Court on this matter, saying that since the practical exams are about to start on February 15, "any interference on students' access to educational institutions will impede their education".
The Karnataka government announced to extend the closure period of the colleges as the high court will continue hearing the pleas challenging the hijab ban on Monday.
Earlier, in a bid to maintain law and order ahead of the reopening of schools, the state police took out flag marches in Udupi, Chitradurga and Doddaballapura
Meanwhile, the state government on Friday, issued a series of directions to district administrations to maintain peace and ensure that the High Court order is not violated.
To take stock of the situation, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai held a meeting with some of the Ministers, Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Superintendent of Police (SPs), Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPIs) and CEOs of Zilla Panchayats of all districts over video conferencing.
"From Monday, high school classes up to class 10 will resume across the state, directions have been issued to see to it that no untoward incident takes place. In sensitive areas, DCs and SPs have to visit campuses and instruct the authorities and teaching staff there to see to it that no untoward incidents take place," Jnanendra said as quoted by news agency PTI.
"Action should be taken against the guilty, peace meetings should be held and the High Court order should be followed literally. Authorities should not budge to any pressure and even small incidents should be considered seriously," he added.
The DCs, SPs and DDPIs have been asked to keep constant contact with the principals, teachers, management of educational institutions and parents.
The ongoing row can be traced back to the beginning of January when some students in Udupi and Chikkamagaluru started wearing hijab to schools as a mark of protest after some of them were not allowed to enter the classroom for wearing the headscarves.