A representational photo of students wearing saffron shawls while others are wearing a hijab.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The saffron shawl-hijab row has resurfaced in Haveri district, with some students attending classes wearing saffron shawl in protest against students attending classes wearing hijab in C.G. Bellad Government First Grade College at Akki Alur of Haveri district.
The students had attended classes wearing a saffron shawl on December 4. The day had passed without any problem as the lecturers and authorities did not object to them wearing saffron shawls, and the students had returned home after attending classes.
On December 5, they brought the shawls in their bags, forcing the authorities to hold talks with them, sources said.
Their grouse was that the principal had not ensured compliance with uniform code by not allowing hijab on the campus even after repeated pleas.
In protest, around 50 students, including female students, had attended classes wearing saffron shawls on December 4. A few students, on condition of anonymity, claimed that they were forced to wear the shawls because of their plea was not being addressed.
The tussle has reportedly resulted in students being barred from carrying mobile phones to the college, and regular checks had increased in the last couple of days.
College authorities have maintained that the students, once inside the college, removed the hijab and attended classes wearing the regular uniform. It was only because two students attended classes wearing hijab on December 3 that a few other students had come wearing saffron shawls on December 4.
According to Principal Viresh Kummur, the issue was being sorted out through dialogue. A meeting is being on December 5.
Published – December 05, 2025 11:40 am IST
