The Karnataka government on Wednesday (13 May 2026) issued a major order withdrawing with immediate effect its February 2022 directive that had effectively banned the wearing of hijab and other religious symbols in aided and private schools and pre-university colleges across the state, as reported in LiveLaw.
In a fresh circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, the government permitted students to wear limited traditional and faith-based symbols along with the prescribed uniform. The order specifically allows the use of hijab, turban (Pete), sacred thread (Janivara), Shivadara, Rudraksha and other similar symbols, provided they do not interfere with institutional discipline, safety requirements or student identification procedures.
The move formally nullifies the Government Order dated 5 February 2022, which had directed all government, aided and private educational institutions in Karnataka to strictly enforce prescribed uniforms, thereby prohibiting students from wearing the hijab and other visible religious symbols inside classrooms. The 2022 order had triggered nationwide protests, political controversy and prolonged legal battles before the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court.
In March 2022, the Karnataka High Court had upheld the state’s position and ruled that wearing the hijab was not an Essential Religious Practice under Islam and therefore did not receive constitutional protection under Article 25. Subsequently, a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on petitions challenging the 2022 order, resulting in the matter being referred to a larger Bench. That reference remains pending before the apex court.
The latest order also comes shortly after the Karnataka High Court issued notice to the state government in a public interest litigation challenging the alleged denial of entry to students wearing sacred thread during the Common Entrance Test (CET) 2025 conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority. The PIL sought a declaration that preventing such students from appearing for the examination was unconstitutional.
Referring to provisions of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983 and Rule 11 of the Karnataka Education Institutions (Classification, Regulation and Prescription of Curricula etc.) Rules, 1995, the government stated that educational institutions may permit limited use of traditional and practice-based religious symbols as long as they do not obstruct orderliness or institutional functioning.
The preamble to the government order also laid out the constitutional reasoning behind the withdrawal of the earlier ban. It stated that secularism under the Constitution does not mean opposition to individual faith or belief systems, but instead requires equal respect for all religions, institutional impartiality and non-discriminatory conduct by the state.
The order further stated that the government was of the view that “institutional discipline and orderliness can be preserved without mandatorily prohibiting limited traditional and practice-based symbols that students commonly wear.”
The circular specifically directed that no student wearing such permitted symbols should be denied admission, academic progress, examinations, competitions or participation in educational activities. It also stated that no student shall be compelled to remove such symbols and that no institution or authority may forcibly remove them.
At the same time, the order carved out a limited exception for examinations, stating that national and state-level dress code regulations prescribed by competent authorities may still apply wherever necessary.
The government further directed that implementation of the revised policy must remain uniform and free from religious or communal discrimination. School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs), College Development Committees (CDCs), governing bodies and heads of institutions were instructed not to humiliate, insult, demean or subject students to derogatory treatment for wearing permitted symbols.
The order also invoked the teachings of 12th century social reformer Basavanna, quoting the phrase “Iva Nammave” (“They are ours”) and directing educational institutions in Karnataka to follow the principle in their conduct towards students.
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
