Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty has directed a CBSE-affiliated school in Kochi to allow a student to wear a hijab and continue her studies without interruption.
The issue arose at St. Rita Public School in Palluruthy, where the management had denied the student permission to wear a hijab, citing it as a violation of the school’s uniform policy.
The school even obtained police protection after protests broke out.
However, Sivankutty intervened after receiving a report from education authorities that found serious lapses on the part of the school.
Minister’s Response and Investigation Findings
In a Facebook post, Minister Sivankutty said that the deputy director of education’s inquiry revealed the school’s action of removing the student for wearing a hijab violated the Right to Education Act and the Constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom.
“The school must allow the student to attend classes wearing a hijab, which is part of her religious faith.
The authorities can decide on the colour and design, but denying her right to education is unacceptable,” Sivankutty stated.
He further emphasized that no student in Kerala should face such discrimination and that no institution will be allowed to violate constitutional rights in the name of uniform rules.
Political Reactions and School’s Response
Earlier, Congress MP Hibi Eden met the girl’s father, who said his daughter would continue her studies at the same school and follow the uniform.
He urged people not to politicize the issue.
Hibi Eden later warned that attempts to turn the incident into a communal issue would not be tolerated.
“Some are trying to create a Christian-Muslim divide through social media.
We won’t allow that,” he said.
According to the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), the student joined in June this year and had been following the uniform rules until October 6.
They claimed her parents changed their stance recently.
Following the controversy, the school has declared a two-day holiday this week.
