Muslims pressurise for removal of hijab and burqa ban

• Case from the Acharya Marathe College in Chembur (Mumbai)

• College administration remains firm on the decision

Courtesy : The Jaipur Dialogues

Mumbai – The administration of Acharya Marathe College in Chembur banned the hijab and burqa in 2023. Recently, Muslims have been pressurising the college administration to lift this ban for the upcoming academic year. Some Muslim students have also filed complaints with the National and State Human Rights Commission. Despite this pressure, the college administration has decided to maintain the ban on the hijab and burqa for the next academic year.

In August 2023, wearing of hijab and burqa was prohibited on the premises of Acharya Marathe College. This move was met with opposition from some sections of the Muslim community, who claimed it was an attack on religious freedom. The college’s dress code for this year explicitly states that religious attire, such as the burqa, naqab, hijab, billa and cap, is prohibited. On 13th May, 30 students submitted a statement to the college administration, demanding the removal of this dress code.

Editorial Perspective

Why are the so-called secularists silent about those maintaining their religious identity while studying ?