Bengaluru: Karnataka Government issued a circular on Thursday that students studying in the State and schools managed by the Minority Welfare Department like Maulana Azad Model English Medium schools should not wear saffron scarves, Hijab or any religious flags.

Department of Minority Welfare, Hajj and Wakf Department Secretary Major Manivannan said that Karnataka High Court has in its interim order restrained all the students regardless of their religion or faith from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, Hijab, religious flags or the like within the classroom, until further orders.

High Court order is applicable to residential schools, colleges, Maulana Azad Model English Medium schools coming under the Minority Welfare Department. Against this background, wearing saffron shawl, scarves, Hijab or any other religious flags is prohibited in the schools and colleges. The order comes amid simmering tension in the schools and colleges over minority girls with Burqa and Hijab being denied entry in the schools and colleges.