Archive · 26 Aug 2026
NDA Leaders Challenge Owaisi’s Hijab Criticism Over School Dress Code
A student wanted to wear a hijab with her school uniform.
The Allahabad High Court dismissed her request.
The court said she had not shown that wearing a scarf was an essential part of her religion.
The court also noted that photographs showed other students from the same religious community attending without scarves.
Asaduddin Owaisi disagreed with the decision.
He said it affected religious freedom and constitutional rights.
Leaders from the ruling NDA said schools can have common uniforms and rules.
They also accused Owaisi of using the issue for political reasons.
The debate is about balancing religious expression with school discipline and uniformity.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the Allahabad High Court’s dismissal of a hijab-related petition.
The petition was filed by a minor student from Prayagraj seeking permission to wear a hijab with her school uniform.
Owaisi said the ruling violated Articles 25 and 19 of the Indian Constitution and attacked Islam.
NDA leaders accused Owaisi of vote-bank politics and giving a communal dimension to education.
The court said the petitioner did not establish that wearing a scarf was an essential religious practice.
- Who
- AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, NDA leaders, and a minor student from Prayagraj are central to the dispute.
- What
- NDA leaders criticized Owaisi after he opposed the Allahabad High Court’s dismissal of a petition seeking permission to wear a hijab with a school uniform.
- When
- Owaisi made his remarks on Tuesday; NDA leaders responded on Wednesday.
- Where
- The petition concerned a school in Prayagraj, and the political reactions were reported from New Delhi.
- Why
- The court said the petitioner had not established that wearing a scarf was an essential religious practice, while Owaisi argued that the decision violated constitutional protections.
Owaisi’s Position
NDA Leaders’ Position
Religious freedom
Owaisi’s Position
Asaduddin Owaisi said the judgment violated Articles 25 and 19 of the Constitution and questioned the court’s authority to determine what is essential to Islam.
NDA Leaders’ Position
NDA leaders said the issue should be governed by the Constitution, institutional rules, and respect for school dress codes.
School uniform and discipline
Owaisi’s Position
Owaisi argued that wearing a hijab is a religious matter and described the ruling as an attack on Islam.
NDA Leaders’ Position
Shaina NC said uniform discipline, equality, and institutional identity should apply to students, while Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said every institution has its own discipline and dress code.
Political framing
Owaisi’s Position
Owaisi presented the decision as affecting Muslim girls’ religious rights and constitutional protections.
NDA Leaders’ Position
Ghulam Ali Khatana, Shaina NC, and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accused Owaisi of vote-bank politics or of adding a communal flavour to education and progress.
- Court
- Allahabad High Court
- Petitioner
- A minor student from a school in Prayagraj
- Request
- Permission to wear a hijab with the prescribed school uniform
- Owaisi’s objection
- He said the ruling violated Articles 25 and 19 and attacked Islam.
- Court’s observation
- The petitioner did not produce religious scripture or other material proving that wearing a scarf was essential to her religion.
- NDA criticism
- Leaders accused Owaisi of vote-bank politics and adding a communal flavour to education.
- Dress-code position
- NDA leaders said institutions may maintain discipline and dress codes; the hijab is not banned nationally.