Aggrieved by the decision of a college in Mumbai, which issued a notice, mentioning a dress code and banning the burqa, naqab, hijab, cap, badge and stole, nine students from the institute today went to the Bombay High Court against the college’s direction.

After N G Acharya and D K Marathe College, Chembur, circulated the messages on May 1, several students on May 13 complained to the college’s administration, expressing their discontent with the new dress code direction. The college authorities reportedly did not respond. The students then approached Mumbai University and the University Grants Commission but all the efforts ended up futile with no response.  The college is affiliated to Mumbai University and is aided by the government.

However, after getting no responses, the student today filed a complaint in the Bombay High Court, seeking rejection of the college’s new dress code notice cum direction. 

The controversial notice stated, “You shall follow the dress code of college of formal and decent dress which shall not reveal anyone’s religion such as no burqa, no nakab, no hijab, no cap, no badge, no stole etc. Only a full of half shirt and normal trousers for boys and any Indian/Western non-revealing dress for girls on the college campus. Changing room available for girls.”

Read more: “We Have Not Made Any Orders Regarding Hijab”: Karnataka Home Minister On Lifting Hijab Ban

Advocate Altaf Khan, the petitioner’s lawyer, said that the plea will be heard on June 9. The petition stated that for the initial years, there were no restrictions on wearing niqab and, hijab, either on the college campus or in the classroom for the students. 

There was no prescribed uniform, senior college students were allowed in niqab and hijab in the classroom, as they were and are comfortable with. ‘However, it was suddenly in May this year that such a message was circulated through the college principal,’ the petition stated. 

The plea added that the Naqab and hijab are an integral part of the petitioners’ religious belief and it is their free will, choice and a part of their right to privacy to continue wearing the niqab and hijab in the classroom.

The students are now concerned about the new academic year, which started this week. As students went to college, the authorities reiterated that they would not allow them with niqabs and burqas.

Real more: Muskan, The Student From Karnataka, Thanks Government For “Giving Back” The Right For Hijab