Let student wear hijab, Kerala govt tells school, accuses it of ‘serious lapses’
According to Education Minister V Sivankutty, the deputy director of education reported that the removal of the student from class on the grounds of wearing a hijab is a dereliction of duty and a violation of her rights
3 min readThiruvananthapuramOct 15, 2025 07:14 AM IST
Earlier, the School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) had said the girl joined in June this year and followed the dress code of pants and shirt until October 6.
Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty Tuesday directed a CBSE-affiliated school in Kochi to allow a student to wear hijab and continue her studies.
Authorities at St Rita Public School at Palluruthy had insisted that allowing a hijab was against the uniform and the management, in an interim order from the High Court, had obtained police protection for the institution. The management had rejected the girl’s plea that she be allowed to wear a hijab, which led to protests.
Sivankutty’s directive came hours after the Congress leadership in Ernakulam, led by MP Hibi Eden, met the girl’s father, who told reporters that her daughter would follow the school’s dress code. “My daughter will continue to study at the same school following the uniform. I don’t want to see the issue being exploited by certain quarters,” he said.
In a post on Facebook, Sivankutty said a probe by the deputy director of education found serious lapses on the part of the school.
As per the report of the deputy director, removing the student from the class on grounds of wearing a hijab is a dereliction of duty and violation of educational rights act, the post read.
The act of the school is against the fundamental freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution. The school should allow the student to continue her studies wearing a hijab, which is part of her religious beliefs. The school authorities can decide the colour and design. No student in Kerala should face such an experience and no institution will be allowed to violate Constitutional rights, he said.
After meeting the girl’s father, Hibi Eden said, “There are attempts to create communal divide in society on this issue. People from outside are intervening and we will not allow BJP to exploit the situation. Certain organisations in social media have been depicting the issue as a Christian-Muslim issue.”
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Earlier, the School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) had said the girl joined in June this year and followed the dress code of pants and shirt until October 6. They said her parents changed their stand on October 6, though they agreed to the dress code during admission. Following agitation, the school has declared a holiday for two days this week.
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India.
Expertise, Experience, and Authority
Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes:
Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration.
Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules.
Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
