On Monday, a video posted by local news portal GalliNews surfaced online, capturing a tense moment at Vivek Vidyalaya Junior College in Goregaon West, Mumbai.
In the video, several Muslim girl students, clad in burqas, claim that they were told by the school administration: burqa is banned inside classrooms.
What has triggered the controversy is that the burqa, which many of these students say they have worn all their lives, can now be used only until the gate, after that they are asked to change into other clothes if they wish to attend class.
Students’ Claim: Ban Comes Suddenly
In the clip shared by GalliNews, one first-year junior college (FYJC) student says she and others used to attend classes wearing burqas without objection.
But now, with the new rule, they are being stopped at the entrance. According to that student, they were told to remove the burqa before entering classrooms.
Another student in the video claims the change has caused “discomfort” and a sense of alienation: “I’ve worn a burqa all my life. Sitting in class without one feels odd,” she is heard saying.
According to reports, Jahanara Shaikh, an advocate from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), accompanied the students to the local police station to register a formal protest. The advocate has reportedly argued that the rule may violate students’ constitutional rights and has demanded that the college withdraw the restriction.
What the College Says And What’s at Stake
According to reports published by several news portals, the college has issued a dress-code circular that prohibits clothing which “reveals religion or shows cultural disparity.”
As per these reports, the circular bans burqas, niqabs and other full-body coverings for junior college students, while allowing the hijab. However, The Logical Indian has not independently verified this circular or the college administration’s official stance.
These reports also state that the institution has justified the rule on grounds of campus “uniformity” and “decorum.” Meanwhile, critics, including student activists and community members, argue that the reported policy discriminates on religious grounds and could violate the principles of personal liberty and equal access to education.
Dress-Code Controversies in Mumbai
This is not the first time a Mumbai educational institution has been caught in a conflict over religious dress. Several private colleges in Chembur recently imposed bans on hijab, burqa and niqab under “formal-dress” or “uniform” policies, triggering legal and social backlash.
In many cases, administrations have argued that such dress codes promote discipline and campus uniformity. But critics contend that banning religious attire constitutes state-endorsed discrimination, infringing on constitutional freedoms of religion and equal participation in education.
