Teacher quits after she was 'asked' to remove hijab in Karnataka

An English teacher at the Jain PU College in Karnataka's Tumakuru resigned on Thursday, after she was allegedly asked to remove her hijab before entering the college. She said it was undemocratic and unconstitutional for college authorities to ask her to remove the hijab that she had worn to college for almost three years.

Chandini, a guest lecturer, said she had worked for almost three years but was asked to remove her hijab for the first time. She told reporters that the principal had informed teachers of a decision the management had taken to ensure Karnataka high court's interim order to not allow any religious garment in school was implemented. College principal KT Manjunath, however, said neither he nor anyone else in the management asked her to remove the hijab.

"I am not comfortable without the hijab, so I have taken the decision. I have been working at Jain PU College for the last three years. I haven't faced any issues so far. But yesterday, the principal told me that I can't wear a hijab or any religious symbol while teaching. But I have taught for the last three years wearing hijab. This new decision is a hit to my self-respect. That's why I have decided to resign," Chandini told journalists. In her resignation letter, she said that the "right to religion is a constitutional right which nobody could deny. "I condemn your undemocratic act," Chandini's letter said. Schools and colleges in Karnataka have been witnessing a series of protests over hijab restrictions.