'Follow school's uniform policy; no need to wear hijab'; HC quashes student's plea

LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court dismissed a student's plea seeking permission to wear a hijab with her school uniform. The court said that it cannot be established that wearing a hijab is an essential religious practice of Islam. The court observed that it cannot be considered an essential religious practice protected by freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution.

A Plus One student of a school in Prayagraj had approached the High Court seeking permission to wear a hijab with her uniform. A division bench of Justices JJ Muneer and Indrajeet Shukla considered the plea. The Muslim student argued that wearing a hijab is part of her religious practice. However, according to the court, putting forward a mere argument of practice would not be enough to ensure protection in the name of freedom of religion.

The court said it is nowhere proven that wearing the hijab is a mandatory practice in Islam, with no religious or legal document in the petition to substantiate that not doing it would affect the faith. The High Court also upheld the importance of a uniform dress code in educational institutions. The court clarified that the dress code imposed in a school is applicable to everyone and cannot be changed based on personal preference.

The student argued that she wore a hijab in school from class 6 to 10. However, the court said that the uniform dress policy cannot be questioned since the school had not previously objected to it. The High Court dismissed the student's plea, allowing the school to implement a specific uniform policy.