Hijab Row: Karnataka government extends holiday for pre-university colleges till February 15

NEW DELHI: In order to maintain peace in the state, the Karnataka government has extended holiday for pre-university colleges till February 15. The PU colleges were shut from February 9 following the raging hijab row on several campuses and were slated to open on February 14. In its circular, the government said the decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in the state.

Primary and secondary education minister B C Nagesh tweeted: “The holidays offered to undergraduate colleges have been extended to February 15 to maintain peace order in the wake of some unpleasant incidents regarding the Uniform Code.”

ಸಮವಸ್ತ್ರ ನಿಯಮ ವಿಚಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಕೆಲವೆಡೆ ಅಹಿತಕರ ಘಟನೆಗಳು ನಡೆದಿದ್ದ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶಾಂತಿ ಸುವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಕಾಪಾಡಲು
ಪದವಿ ಪೂರ್ವ ಕಾಲೇಜುಗಳಿಗೆ ನೀಡಲಾಗಿದ್ದ ರಜೆಯನ್ನು ಫೆಬ್ರವರಿ 15ರ ವರೆಗೆ ವಿಸ್ತರಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.@BSBommai pic.twitter.com/taS2Rvgh0x

— B.C Nagesh (@BCNagesh_bjp) February 12, 2022

According to sources close to Primary and Secondary Education Minister B C Nagesh, the classes for 9th and 10th will function as usual from February 14.

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The government has already ordered closure of the degree and diploma colleges till February 16. However, examinations will be held as scheduled and it has been directed to conduct online classes, state Higher Education Minister C N Ashwath Narayan said in a statement.

The Karnataka government on Friday issued a series of directions to district administrations, aimed at maintaining peace and that the High Court order is not violated. Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai today held a meeting of ministers with deputy commissioners (DCs), superintendent of police (SPs), deputy director of public instruction (DDPIs) and CEOs of Zilla Panchayats of all districts, via video conferencing, to review the ground situation.

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The government on Thursday had decided to resume classes for high school students up to class 10 from February 14, and for Pre-University and Degree Colleges thereafter.

As protests for and against the hijab intensified in different parts of Karnataka and turned violent in some places, the government declared a holiday for all high schools and colleges in the state for three days, from February 9.

(with inputs from PTI)