Headscarf not an essential part of Islam: HC

The Allahabad High Court dismissed a petition filed by a minor student from Tagore Public School in Prayagraj seeking permission to wear a headscarf under her uniform. The court determined that the student had not provided sufficient evidence to prove that wearing a headscarf was an essential religious practice in Islam. Furthermore, the court observed that no other female students, including those of the same faith, were seen wearing headscarves in the photographs from the school.

The lawsuit was initiated by the student's mother after she completed Class 10 and sought admission to Class 11. Initially, the student had been wearing the headscarf since Class 6 without any objections from the school. However, the school subsequently informed her that including the scarf in her uniform violated the school's dress code, leading to her refusal of admission.

The Allahabad High Court examined the student's plea and the supporting material and referred to photographs from various classes, noting that the petitioner was the only girl student wearing the headscarf. The court emphasized that there was no concrete evidence to support the student's claim that wearing a headscarf was an essential religious practice in Islam, stating that merely stating this assertion was insufficient to establish a constitutional claim.