Student involved in hijab controversy joins new school, informs father via FB 

KOCHI: The girl embroiled in hijab controversy in Palluruthy School has been admitted to a new school. This was informed by her father via a Facebook post. She was admitted to eighth class at Dawn Public School in Palluruthy.

His Facebook post said that his daughter has joined a school where other students would not be frightened by seeing a three-quarter meter cloth on her head. She can continue studies with her head held high in the new school. Her father had earlier said that he would shift her to a new school following the hijab controversy.

Meantime, the high court has disposed of the plea after the student who came to St Rita's School in Palluruthy wearing a hijab along with her uniform, was made to stand outside. This was after the parents informed that the child is not continuing in this school and do not want to make the issue bigger. After the school authorities and the government took a favorable stand, Justice V G Arun closed the further proceedings in the plea related to this. The court had said that communal harmony, which is a fundamental principle of the Constitution, should prevail.

The high court considered the plea filed by the school manager seeking cancellation of the notice issued by the Ernakulam DEO citing the school authorities' shortcomings on the hijab issue. The student and her father, who are parties to the case, were present in the court. Their lawyer informed that the child is not continuing in the school and does not want to escalate the issue. It was alleged that the management's petition is to aggravate the issue.

However, the school authorities said the intention was to follow international standards in uniform and discipline and that there was no intention to isolate anyone. The single bench disposed of the plea stating that there was no need for special mediation efforts and that a solution could be found in the high court itself.