Scarf row: Hadiya's future hinges on PU Department's decision

Bangalore, March 8: Little did 17-year-old Hadiya Iqbal, a II Pre-University (PU) student know that her future would look hazy because of a scarf. The student of Jain PU College, Moodbidri, who was denied permission to wear the “hijab” (traditional scarf) by the college authorities, is a nervous wreck.

Barely a week away from the all-important II PU board examinations (which begin on March 15), she neither has an admission ticket to write the exam, nor does she have enough attendance to permit her to do so. All she knows now is that her dream of pursuing LL.B hangs in balance due to her desire to adhere to her religious beliefs. Now, after knocking on several doors for getting permission to write the exam, her future hinges on a letter from the Department of PU Education.

Ms. Iqbal claims that the college management, in response to a question by the local police in September last year, had assured the police of giving her the hall ticket for the March exams. On the basis of this assurance, Ms. Iqbal has been studying at home for the past year, since she attended II PU classes only for the first 10 days.

“Last month, as I had to submit my Computer Science record books, I called the college. This was when I was told that I cannot submit the records; nor can I write the exams as I don't have enough attendance,” said the Commerce student. The college authorities now insist that she should get a letter from the PU Department permitting her to write the exam. “The department has not responded yet. Time is running out and I am in a dilemma,” said Ms. Iqbal, over phone from Moodbidri.

'Uniformity needed'

However, the management of the college stood by its stand. Abhijith M., secretary of the DJV Sangha, which manages Jain PU College, said that the “burkha” and the “hijab” were fine inside the campus, but not inside the classroom. “Several girls come to college in “burkhas”, but remove them as soon as they are in class. The reason why we are saying this is because we want to maintain uniformity within the classroom,” he added.

The response from the PU Department was more heartening.

A PU official, on condition of anonymity, said that the department was reviewing Ms. Iqbal's request, and a decision is likely to be taken keeping her interest in mind. “Such requests (for permission to write exams in special cases) have been heeded to in the past as well,” the official added.