New Delhi: Amid the raging hijab controversy, a college in Uttar Pradesh has enforced dress code for their students. The Dharma Samaj (DS) College in Aligarh issued a notice on Thursday declaring a ban on entry of students without the prescribed college uniform.
"This is to inform all of the students of the college that they should come in the prescribed dress of the college. If they are not in the prescribed dress, the college administration will be compelled to deprive them of entering the college. Therefore, strict compliance of the above should be ensured," read the notice issued by the college authorities, reported news agency ANI.
Dr Raj Kumar Verma, Principal of the college, said that students will not be allowed inside the college premises covering their face with a hijab or a saffron stole.
"We'll not allow students to enter the campus with covered faces. Students are not allowed to wear a saffron stole or hijab inside college premises," Verma was quoted by ANI.
In January this year some students were allegedly denied entry to a Government Girls PU College in Udupi wearing hijab (a headscarf worn by Muslim women) after which protests began in the state against the order.
Later, a circular was released by the pre-University education board stating that students can only wear the uniform approved by the school administration and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges. The students opposed the decision and began protests in campuses.
Soon the agitation spread across Karnataka and turned violent. All high schools, PU and Degree colleges in the state were shut till February nine. They were ordered to reopen on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court is hearing two petitions related to the case, while a petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court.