A nursing college in Bengaluru has been accused of preventing Kashmiri female students from attending classes for wearing the hijab or burkha, sparking outrage and calls for government intervention. The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) said the students were threatened with expulsion and denied access to their academic records if they did not remove their religious clothing.
The incident took place at Sri Soubhagya Lalitha College of Nursing, which is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). According to the students, the college chairman entered a classroom and told the hijab-wearing girls to leave, reportedly saying, “This is our college; only our rules apply.” The students claim there is no official rule from the university banning the hijab, yet the college management insisted on enforcing such a policy.
In response, JKSA sent a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging him to take swift action. The group called the college’s actions unconstitutional and discriminatory, saying that no student should have to choose between their education and their faith.
Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of JKSA, said, “The college cited fake university rules and made Islamophobic claims, even saying such attire isn’t allowed in Kashmir—an absurd and false justification.” He added that the incident violated basic constitutional rights, including the right to equality, education, and religious freedom under Articles 15, 21A, and 25.
The students, JKSA said, have suffered emotional stress and public humiliation. “This sends a dangerous message to Muslim girls across India—that their identity is unwelcome even in educational institutions,” the association stated.
Riyaz Basha, registrar of evaluation at RGUHS, told The Indian Express, “We have heard the version of the college principal and chairman. Now we’ve called the students to RGUHS to hear their side. We will act according to government rules.”
JKSA urged the Chief Minister to ask the Education Department, RGUHS, and the State Minority Commission to investigate the incident and ensure that the students are allowed to resume their education without bias. They also demanded disciplinary action against the college officials responsible, warning that such actions damage Karnataka’s image as an inclusive and safe place for higher education.
