I'm not the right person to comment on whether Hijab is mandatory or not so I'll refrain from that (also the issue should be about uniform and not religion as per me) .
In my personal opinion, the schools can permit it from the next academic year, include it as a part of the uniform.
But uniforms in schools have been a norm. It's the middle if the term.
If the institution didn't have a problem with it earlier and is just now creating an issue, then certainly it deserves all the brickbats. Should be penalised and reprimanded.
On the other hand, if the girls weren't wearing a hijab till now and have suddenly started wearing one, then it's obviously a way to create controversy.
In either cases, whatever was being permitted by the institution in the current academic year, should be allowed instead of trying to bully the other party.
From the next academic year they can explicitly state what's to be allowed as a part of the uniform and what's not. Then the students can decide whether they want to take admissions there or not. Middle of the term is no time to create such rules or demands.
PS: Demands on the basis of religion being defended in the name of 'choice' is a very slippery slope. A precedent once set can lead to a lot of regressive idealogies being given leeway just because. But everyone knows what's going to be court's order. And now the ones who weren't even interested in following such practices will follow it just to assert their religious identities or to show the finger to the rest. Unfortunately, if you look at the bigger picture, you are just slipping back into the patriarchal conditioning many have spent years to escape. Par theek hai, ab reforms impose toh kar nhi sakte.
Edited by trouble_006 - 3 years ago
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