Controversy erupts as Mumbai college bars burqa-wearing students’ entry

In Mumbai’s Chembur, NG Acharya & DK Marathe College faced controversy when it refused entry to girl students wearing burqas, citing their uniform policy. The incident led to heightened tensions, prompting parents of the affected girl students to hold a demonstration at the college gate. Videos of the protests quickly circulated on social media, drawing attention to the situation.

The situation was de-escalated when police officials arrived at the scene and engaged in discussions with both the parents and the college authorities. Later, the college issued a statement outlining specific guidelines to be adhered to regarding the dress code for students.

According to College Principal Vidya Gauri Lele, the incident occurred in the context of a newly introduced dress code at the college this year. She emphasized that the rules had been communicated to the parents well in advance.

According to College Principal, a meeting was held with parents on May 1 to discuss the newly implemented dress code policy. During the meeting, all aspects of the policy, including the prohibition of burqas, hijabs, scarves, and stickers, were clearly communicated, and all parents agreed to the dress code at that time. However, despite this agreement, protests are now taking place. The principal asserted that any girl student who disagrees with the dress code is free to choose not to attend the college.

Meanwhile, Muslim girl students at the college expressed their discomfort with the requirement to leave the house without wearing hijab or burqa, emphasizing that it is an integral part of their religious practice. They requested the college authorities to consider granting permission for them to wear scarves for their comfort, as a possible compromise.

Last year, a comparable ban on hijab in colleges in Karnataka stirred a major controversy, which eventually reached the Supreme Court and triggered widespread protests across the country.