College Bars Sikh Girl From Wearing Turban, Reverses Decision

Picture courtesy GCS

Bengaluru: A prominent Bengaluru college, which had barred an “Amritdhari (baptised)” Sikh student from wearing a turban to class, reversed its decision on Thursday.

The change in stance came after authorities of Mount Carmel PU College understood “her circumstances” following an exchange with her parents, ThePrint reported.

On Tuesday, the college had asked the girl to sit for exams without her turban in the “interest of parity”. Two hijab-clad students had complained that they were being singled out after being pulled up by an invigilator that day for wearing headscarf during exams.

Mount Carmel PU College stated that the Sikh girl’s parents explained to them that turban was intrinsic to her after baptism.

“The incident happened after girls prevented from wearing the hijab pointed to another student wearing a turban. In the interest of parity, the Sikh girl was asked about her religious symbol. She explained that the turban was necessary as she had been baptised,” the college said in a statement to ThePrint.

“Her father wrote to the PUC (pre-university college) administration confirming this. We understood the circumstances and supported her decision to wear a turban,” the college justified their decision.

The Karnataka High Court is hearing a batch of petitions challenging a state government order banning religious outfits in educational institutions.