J&K students’ association seeks CM’s intervention after Kashmiri students wearing hijab barred from Bengaluru college

Bengaluru

The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, requesting action after several Kashmiri female students were allegedly barred from attending classes at Soubhagya Lalitha College of Nursing in Bengaluru for wearing hijab and burkha.

In the letter dated July 15, JKSA stated that students were not allowed to attend lectures or practicals over the past few days and were threatened with expulsion if they continued wearing religious attire. The college is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS).

According to the letter, the college chairman entered a classroom and asked students wearing hijab and burkha to leave immediately. The chairman allegedly told students their admissions would be cancelled if they did not comply with the college’s internal dress rules. When students asked for clarification, they were reportedly told that “only the college’s rules apply.”

The JKSA said the college cited “university rules” banning religious attire, though the association stated that no such official policy exists under Indian law. The administration also said some students objected to the presence of hijab-wearing students.

The association has requested the Chief Minister to direct the Education Department, RGUHS, and the Minority Commission to investigate the matter. It also urged the state government to ensure that the affected students are allowed to resume their studies without conditions and that action is taken against those responsible.

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