Kerala Govt Dismissed A Plea Student Police Cadets, Saying Wearing Hijab Will Affect Secularism

The Kerala government has refused to allow Muslim girl students involved in the Student Police Cadet project to wear the hijab. The government says that this will affect secularism in the state. In fact, a Muslim student involved in the Student Police Cadet Project of the Kerala government had sought permission to wear a hijab (head scarf) and full-sleeved dress as part of her religious traditions.

Student Police Cadet (SPC) Project is a school-based youth development initiative that aims to inculcate respect for law, discipline, civic sense, empathy for the weaker sections of the society, resistance to social evils and a democratic society for high school students. Provides training to develop them as future leaders.

Rejecting the girl’s plea, the Kerala government said that such relaxation in the schedule of the state police would have a great impact on secularism in the state. In its order, the State Home Department stated that the Government, after careful examination of its representation, is fully satisfied that the petitioner’s demand is not maintainable.

Also, if such relaxation is considered in the Student Police Cadet project, a similar demand will be made on other similar forces, which will significantly affect the secularism of the state. Therefore, it is not appropriate to give any such indication. Students cannot wear a special religious dress in uniform under the Police Cadet Project.

Earlier, the student had moved the court after the student police cadet department informed her that the project would not allow wearing of head scarf and full sleeve dress as per Islamic beliefs. The student had filed a petition in the Kerala High Court seeking permission to wear a full-sleeved shirt and hijab in student police cadet uniform. Which was rejected by the court.

However, the court had directed that he was at liberty to make a representation before the government regarding his complaint raised in the writ petition. Thereafter, the student had filed a petition before the state government in compliance with the High Court’s decision.

The Kerala government has refused to allow Muslim girl students involved in the Student Police Cadet project to wear the hijab. The government says that this will affect secularism in the state. In fact, a Muslim student involved in the Student Police Cadet Project of the Kerala government had sought permission to wear a hijab (head scarf) and full-sleeved dress as part of her religious traditions.

Student Police Cadet (SPC) Project is a school-based youth development initiative that aims to inculcate respect for law, discipline, civic sense, empathy for the weaker sections of the society, resistance to social evils and a democratic society for high school students. Provides training to develop them as future leaders.