US EditionKerala’s hijab row: Explained
St. Rita's Public School reopened after a two-day closure, with the student absent and the parents agreeing to comply with the uniform policy, officials said.
- On October 7, the CBSE-affiliated, church-run school in Ernakulam refused a Class 8 student permission to wear a hijab, leading to St. Rita's Public School closing on October 13 and 14.
- According to the school diary, girls must wear pants, shirt and an overcoat, and school officials say the student had followed the uniform since June.
- The inquiry concluded that expelling the student for wearing a hijab on October 7 breached conduct rules and the Right to Education Act, following the order by the Minister for General Education earlier this month.
- The school resumed operations on October 15, though the student did not return, and the family decided to obtain her transfer certificate to enroll elsewhere.
- Political and community leaders publicly weighed in on the controversy, while the Kerala High Court ordered police protection after threats; the row eased on October 14, 2025, following parleys with Hibi Eden.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Kerala School Hijab Row: Congress, SDPI Trying to Incite Unrest, Says State CPI(M) Secy MV Govindan
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M) Kerala State secretary MV Govindan on Friday slammed Congress and the SDPI, accusing them of trying to incite unrest over an issue where a school in Kochi refused to permit a student to attend classes wearing a hijab (headscarf), citing the institution's uniform policy. Kerala School Hijab Row: Congress, SDPI Trying to Incite Unrest, Says State CPI(M) Secy MV Govindan.
Kerala High Court Refuses To Halt DDE’s Directive Allowing Muslim Girl To Wear Hijab In Class
The Kerala High Court on Friday refused to grant an interim stay on a directive issued by the Deputy Director of Education (DDE), Ernakulam, which instructed St. Rita’s Public School, a Christian minority institution affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), to permit a Muslim girl student to wear a headscarf in class. Justice V. G. Arun directed the State Attorney to obtain instructions on the matter, observing that no co…
Kerala Hijab row: Student to move to another school, say parents
Kochi: The parents of a student who was asked not to wear a hijab at a church-run school in Palluruthy have decided to transfer the girl to another institution. The father of the eighth-class student at St Rita’s Public School told PTI that she would not be sent back to the school. “My daughter has been under severe stress after the hijab incident. She clearly said she doesn’t want to return, so we decided to respect her wishes,” he said. He sai…
Kerala girl who sought right to wear hijab leaves school, father says she was under stress
Amid the hijab row at St. Rita’s Public School in Palluruthy, the father of the Class 8 student said his daughter has been suffering a mental breakdown and decided to obtain a Transfer Certificate. He alleged that some people are exploiting the issue for political and communal gain.
Hijab Row: Setback for Kochi School as Kerala HC Refuses Stay, Seeks State's Response
KOCHI — The Kerala High Court on Friday has directed the state attorney to obtain instructions regarding a directive issued by the Deputy Director of Education (DDE), Ernakulam, asking St. Rita’s Public School, a CBSE-affiliated Christian management school, to allow a Muslim girl student to attend classes wearing a headscarf. A bench of Justice V.G. Arun asked the state to provide guidance on the matter while refusing to grant an interim stay. …
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