Karnataka Government Withdraws 2022 Hijab Ban Order

The Karnataka Government has officially withdrawn its February 2022 order that prohibited the wearing of hijab and other religious symbols in educational institutions.

The new circular, issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, permits students to wear faith-based symbols such as the hijab, turban, sacred thread, and rudraksha alongside prescribed uniforms.

This decision marks a shift from the previous mandate, which the Karnataka High Court had upheld by ruling that the hijab is not an "essential religious practice." The government’s new preamble emphasizes a constitutional perspective on secularism, asserting that institutional discipline can be maintained without mandatorily prohibiting traditional symbols.

The order further stipulates that no student shall be denied entry or academic participation for wearing these permitted items.