The Allahabad High Court rejected a student’s application seeking permission to wear a hijab at school in India’s Uttar Pradesh state.
The student, who attends a private school in Prayagraj, applied to the court through her mother, requesting permission to wear a hijab in addition to the uniform prescribed by the school.
The court’s reasoning
The court ruled that educational institutions’ dress codes cannot be changed according to students’ personal preferences. It therefore rejected the student’s application.
The ruling also rejected the view that wearing a hijab is one of Islam’s “essential religious practices.” The court said higher judicial authorities shared the view that the hijab is not an indispensable part of Islamic faith.
According to the court, refraining from wearing a hijab does not constitute a situation that threatens a person’s religious beliefs.