In February 2022, a hijab row erupted in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. A group of young Muslim women, who wanted to wear the head covering inside their college classrooms, was denied entry on the grounds of breaching the institute’s uniform policy. Following protests and counter-protests, the Karnataka government – which is led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party – issued an order ruling against the wearing of hijab in educational institutions. Aggrieved students filed a petition in the state high court, which ruled against them.
The matter went up to the Indian Supreme Court, which in October 2022 only managed a split verdict in the case – which means that the debate continues to rage in the country.
