Allahabad High Court Rejects Student's Plea to Wear Hijab

The Allahabad High Court dismissed a petition filed by Sukaina Rizvi, a minor student at Tagore Public School in Prayagraj, who sought permission to wear a hijab with her school uniform. Rizvi, seeking admission to Class XI, argued that the headscarf is an essential religious practice and noted she had worn one from Class VI to X. A division bench comprising Justices J.J. Munir and Indrajeet Shukla rejected the plea, ruling that the petitioner failed to provide factual or legal evidence that the hijab is an essential part of Islam.

The court affirmed the right of unaided private institutions to enforce non-discriminatory dress codes to maintain discipline and a religion-neutral environment. The judges cited the Karnataka High Court's ruling as persuasive authority, observing that other high courts have been unanimous in viewing the hijab as non-essential to the faith.

Following the verdict, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the ruling during a gathering in Hyderabad. Owaisi characterized the judgment as an "attack on Islam" and argued that it violates Articles 19 and 25 of the Indian Constitution. He contended that the court should have deferred the decision while the Supreme Court of India deliberates on religious essentiality in the Sabarimala case.