The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a controversial circular issued by Mumbai's NG Acharya & DK Marathe College that banned the wearing of hijabs, niqabs, burqas, and similar attire on campus. The court slammed the college's selective dress code, questioning why religious symbols like tilak and Bindi were exempt from the ban while Islamic attire was not.
The bench emphasized the need for freedom of choice, stating, "It's unfortunate that you suddenly wake up to know that there are many religions in the country." The college's directive had sparked outrage, with nine female students challenging it as a violation of their fundamental rights, including the right to practice religion and the right to privacy.
The controversy erupted when the college issued the ban in May via an official WhatsApp group. The students' initial attempts to resolve the issue with the college administration and Mumbai University officials were ignored, leading them to escalate the matter to the Bombay High Court, which refused to intervene.
The Supreme Court's stay on the hijab ban has reignited the national debate on religious freedom and dress codes in educational institutions, making it one of the most discussed topics today.
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