After some schools in Kerala implemented gender-neutral uniforms, the southern state is now witnessing a row over a student uniform.
The Kerala government has declined the plea of a girl student seeking permission to wear head covering scarf (hijab) and full sleeve dress as part of the uniform of Student Police Cadet, a project initiated by the Kerala Police on the lines of the National Cadet Corps.
An eighth-standard student of a government school at Kuttyadi in Kozhikode district came up with the plea citing her religious beliefs and constitutional rights. But the state government declined it on the grounds that the uniform should ensure the dignity of a dress code of police force and is envisioned so that children can work towards gender justice and also non-racial and non-religious discrimination among children.
Combining religious matters with uniforms in the present situation would raise the same demands in other similarly functioning forces, which would question the discipline and secular survival of the forces. Also, if such a waiver is considered in the Student Police Cadet project, similar demands will be made on other similar forces, which will significantly affect the secularism of the state, said a government order issued after hearing the minor girl, her guardian and other government departments concerned.
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The student had earlier approached the Kerala High Court with the plea and the court directed that the matter be taken up with the state government.
The row began with the student, who is a member of the Student Police Cadet team of her school, sent a picture to the faculty in-charge wearing the uniform. She was wearing hijab and full sleeve dress. The faculty in-charge said that the hijab and full sleeve dress could not be allowed as it was against SPC dress code. The petitioner maintained that according to their beliefs it is a religious obligation to wear hijab and full sleeve dress and is also her fundamental right.
The SPC authorities pointed out that from the implementation of the project in 2010 the cadets have been wearing gender-neutral uniforms with no religious obligations. It is estimated that about 10 to 12 per cent of children in the project belong to the Muslim community and no one has ever raised such a demand. In NCC or Scouts and Guides too religious dress code is not allowed, it was pointed out.
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