Kerala govt tells HC denying girl permission to wear hijab in school violates right to secular education

kochi: the kerala government on friday told the high court that refusing permission to a muslim girl to wear her headscarf (hijab) to school amounted to an “invasion of her privacy and dignity” and a “denial of her right to secular education.”the government said the girl's right to wear a hijab “does not stop at the school gate.” the statement came in an affidavit filed in response to a plea by st rita's public school, palluruthy, challenging the education department's directive allowing the student to attend classes wearing the hijab.the school, managed by a church, also contested the department's notice alleging “serious malfunctioning” at the institution.when the matter came up on friday, the lawyer for the student informed the court that her parents had decided to withdraw her from the school and admit her elsewhere.taking note of this, justice v g arun said the contentious issues need not be examined further. the judge observed, “this court is happy to note that better sense has prevailed and fraternity, one of the foundational principles of our constitution, remains strong,” and closed the writ petition.inits affidavit, the state asserted that the education department has sufficient functional, financial, and administrative control over cbse-affiliated schools, citing relevant bye-laws and guidelines for issuing nocs.the government maintained that education officers are empowered to inspect schools and issue advisories under these provisions.