Five Muslim girl students from the Hampanakatta University College here have asked for transfer certificates from the college administration after being denied permission to attend classes wearing hijab.

Principal Anusuya Rai has confirmed that the five students have applied for transfer certificates to join other colleges. However, they are being asked to submit another letter making certain corrections. The college management will take a call on issuing the certificates once the girls submit the letters

Due to the evaluation work, the undergraduate course teaching has been shifted online from Monday. Except for a few students, the majority of the 44 Muslim students who study in the college had attended classes as per the guidelines.

After the announcement of II PUC results, the admissions to UG courses will begin this week. Mangaluru University Vice-Chancellor P.S. Yadapaditaya had earlier announced that the university would make special provisions for Muslim girls who want to join other colleges in connection with the hijab rule.

Hundreds of students studying at University College in Mangaluru city had boycotted the classes on May 26 protesting against allowing Muslim girl students to attend classes in hijab.

The students had demanded that the college management should prohibit students from wearing hijab in classes. They expressed their anger against the college management for allowing hijab in classrooms despite the court and the government orders in this regard.

The Hijab crisis, which started as a protest by 6 students of Udupi Pre-University Girl's College, turned into a major crisis-like situation in Karnataka last year.

The issue attracted international attention and dented the image of the state. The students then filed a petition with the High Court seeking permission to wear hijab in classrooms.

The High Court taking note of the crisis in the state and the sensitivity of the matter constituted a special bench of three judges and heard the petition immediately.

The Special Bench headed by the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi dismissed the petition filed by the students and observed that wearing of hijab is not an essential practice in Islam.

The government of Karnataka has issued guidelines for schools and pre-university colleges making uniforms compulsory for students without giving any room for wearing hijab in classrooms. (AA/IANS)