Kerala minister orders Kochi school to allow Muslim girl to wear hijab

Kerala’s General Education Minister V Sivankutty has stepped in to resolve a controversy involving a Muslim student who was allegedly stopped from attending classes at a Christian-run school in Kochi for wearing a hijab.

The minister on Tuesday ordered the school to immediately allow the student to continue her education while wearing her religious headscarf.

He also directed the school principal and management to address the 'mental distress' caused to the girl and her parents over the



incident.

A statement issued by Sivankutty’s office said that the school authorities must submit a detailed report to the minister by 11 am on Wednesday.

The minister emphasised that Kerala upholds secular and constitutional values and would not tolerate any action that discriminates against students on religious grounds.

“No student should face such hardship in Kerala, which upholds secular values. No educational institution will be allowed to violate constitutional rights,” Sivankutty stated in his directive.