Allahabad High Court rejects petition to permit hijab in school uniform
The Allahabad High Court turned down a request by a minor student to wear a hijab with her school uniform, finding no evidence that the headscarf is a mandatory Islamic practice.
In Prayagraj, the Allahabad High Court rejected a petition filed by a minor student of Tagore Public School, represented by her mother, who wanted to wear a hijab alongside her uniform for Class XI. The case was heard by Justices J J Munir and Indrajeet Shukla, who examined photographs from various classes and observed that no student, even those belonging to the same religious community, donned a headscarf. The bench stated that the petition did not present any factual or legal evidence establishing the hijab as an indispensable religious requirement for Muslim women.
Consequently, the court found no basis to grant the requested exemption. The judges also referenced prior High Court rulings that uniformly hold the headscarf is not integral to Islam, and its absence does not expel a woman from the faith.
Why it matters
The ruling clarifies that Indian courts do not consider hijab a compulsory religious duty, influencing future school uniform policies.
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