Allahabad HC dismisses hijab plea, upholds school uniform code

The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a petition filed by a minor Muslim student seeking permission to wear a hijab with her prescribed school uniform, ruling that the student failed to establish that wearing a headscarf is an essential religious practice of Islam. The court further held that a private educational institution has the authority to enforce a uniform dress code aimed at maintaining discipline and institutional identity.

The judgment was delivered on August 21 by a bench comprising Justice J.J. Munir and Justice Indrajeet Shukla. The petitioner, a student at a private school in Prayagraj, had completed Class X and was seeking admission to Class XI at the same institution. The petition, filed through her mother, sought directions to the school to allow her to wear a headscarf along with the uniform. The student claimed she had worn a headscarf from Class VI through Class X without objection from the school and argued the practice was protected under her fundamental rights.

The court noted that the student had provided school ID cards and group photographs as evidence of her prior practice. However, the bench observed that photographs from her earlier classes showed...