The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging immediate action after four Kashmiri female students were allegedly barred from attending classes at a nursing college in Bengaluru for wearing the hijab/burkha.
The students are enrolled at the Sri Soubhagya Lalitha College of Nursing, which is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS).
In its letter, the JKSA expressed deep concern over what it called “religious discrimination and humiliation".
Jammu and Kashmir Students Association Writes to Karnataka CM @siddaramaiah Ji, Over Hijab Ban on Kashmiri Girl Students in Karnataka Nursing College, Seeks Immediate Intervention
— Nasir Khuehami (ناصر کہویہامی) (@NasirKhuehami) July 15, 2025
Requesting J&K Chief Minister @OmarAbdullah Sahab to Raise the Matter with His Karnataka… pic.twitter.com/exYLeYWZf4
It said that the students were not allowed into classrooms or practical labs for several days, simply because they chose to dress in a way that reflected their faith and identity.
JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami said that it was shocking that the college chairman entered a classroom and asked the hijab-wearing students to leave.
When questioned, the chairman reportedly said: “This is our college; only our rules apply.”
The college authorities allegedly threatened to expel the students and hold back their academic documents if they didn’t remove their religious attire.
According to the association, the college falsely claimed that wearing the hijab and burkha went against university rules, although there was no official ban under Indian law or university regulations.
The management even claimed that such clothing is not allowed for medical students “anywhere in India, not even in Kashmir". They also said that “no article or fundamental right is applicable” in their college.
JKSA strongly criticised these statements, calling them “Islamophobic and unconstitutional".
It said the actions of the college violated basic rights such as freedom of religion (Article 25), the right to education (Article 21A), and the right against discrimination (Article 15).
The association added that such treatment caused deep emotional harm, especially to students who had left conflict-affected areas like Kashmir to study in Karnataka, expecting safety and equal opportunity.
It warned that this incident could discourage other minority girls from pursuing education in such institutions.
JKSA urged the Chief Minister to direct the Education Minister, RGUHS, and the Minority Commission to take urgent action.
It demanded that the students be allowed to attend classes without being forced to remove their hijabs and that college officials responsible for the discrimination face strict punishment.
