Karnataka schools reopen: Karnataka schools reopen today; Sec 144 in bags | Bengaluru News

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government will reopen classes 9 and 10 from Monday and soon decide to restart the colleges, which have been closed following a row over a Udupi university banning Muslim students from wearing the hijab in escalating classrooms and scattered across the state and beyond.
The state government had wedged Section 144 into sensitive areas for a week, assuring community members that they would not let the hijab feud escalate further.
“I have instructed district deputy commissioners and SPs to take necessary precautions and hold peace committee meetings. Based on the situation on Monday, we will make a decision on the reopening of the colleges,” said CM Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday.
Staff to ensure uniform compliance
The Karnataka HC will hear the petitions on the hijab ban on Monday. In an interim order released Thursday, the court banned students from wearing saffron shawls, shawls, hijab or religious flags in classrooms until further notice. It had said the order is limited to institutions where university development committees have prescribed a dress code or uniform for students.

Section 144 is wedged in sensitive areas including Mysuru and Udupi. The order will be in effect from Feb. 14, 6:00 a.m. to Feb. 19, 6:00 p.m. It is forbidden to gather five or more people, hold protests and all kinds of gatherings. No one, except students and staff, should be within 200 meters of schools.
Schools are classified into A (hypersensitive), B (sensitive) and C (normal) in different locations. The Education Department has been advised to place more staff at the school gates and classrooms to ensure compliance with the HC’s provisional order on uniform.
Public Instruction Department Commissioner R Vishal said officials have spoken with deputy commissioners across the state and expect student attendance on Monday to return to pre-controversy levels.
The peace committee meetings were held within the confines of the police station. At taluk level, meetings are held with organizations that have submitted comments and notes.
Police have reached an agreement in the Mandya district, where images of a girl in a burqa objecting to a group of youths brandishing saffron scarves and chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ went viral.