India: Karnataka hijab row, Judge refers issue to larger bench

NEW DELHI, 10 February 2022, (TON): An Indian state has shut high schools and colleges for three days, after a row over Muslim women wearing headscarves in the classroom.

The government of Karnataka state took the decision after protests by students over the hijab escalated into violence.

A judge at the state's high court referred petitions challenging the ban to a larger panel.

Protests have now spread across the country.

Hundreds of people demonstrated against the ban in Kolkata and Chennai, two of India's largest cities, and in Hyderabad. And the Pakistani government summoned the Indian ambassador to formally convey its concern.

The decision to close the schools and colleges in the southern Indian state came after protests by six teenage students at a government-run college over wearing hijabs spread to other colleges.

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