Not Forcing Teachers Wearing Hijab To Take Up Exam Duty: Karnataka Education Minister

Seven teachers were recently suspended for allowing students wearing hijab to sit for exam despite a government order in Karnatka that had mandated wearing of uniforms in educational institutions

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New Delhi: After Karnataka High Court’s ruling regarding wearing of Hijab in educational institutions, Karnataka Education Minister BC Nagesh said that teachers who “insist on wearing hijab” will not be forced to take up exam duty, reported news agency ANI. 

“As hijab is not allowed inside the examination hall for students, to be morally right, we're not forcing teachers who insist on wearing hijab to take up exam duty. We gave them the option to take exam duty or not,” said the Education Minister, quoted by the news agency. 

 

As hijab is not allowed inside examination hall for students, to be morally right, we're not forcing teachers who insist on wearing hijab to take up exam duty. We gave them the option to take exam duty or not: Karnataka's Primary & Secondary Education Minister BC Nagesh pic.twitter.com/PMEr1UMdhS

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2022

A three-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court last month had dismissed petitions seeking direction for permission to wear hijab inside educational institutions saying that hijab is not an “essential practice” in Islam. 

In recent 10th grade board examination in Karnataka, seven teachers were suspended for allowing students wearing hijab to sit for exam despite a government order in Karnatka that had mandated wearing of uniforms in educational institutions, following Court's order, reported Hindustan Times. 

The petitioners have challenged Karnataka High Court's verdict in Supreme Court, which is yet to give a date for hearing of the matter.