Bengaluru, Jan 27 :The NHRC has sent a notice to Udupi District Magistrate and other officials, asking them to submit a report on restriction of Muslim students wearing hijab during classes by a government college in Karnataka. The notice was sent on January 25 by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to concerned officials after a Women’s Government Pre-University in Udupi dragged itself into the controversy following a few Muslim students staged protests against restriction on wearing hijab during classes. In the notice served to Udupi District Magistrate, the NHRC observed, “Facts of the case are disturbing. The allegation made in the complaint is serious in nature involving ‘Right to Education’. The case, therefore, involves a grave violation of the Human Rights of the victim students. Such types of cases are viewed seriously by the Commission.” The Commission sent the notice after taking cognisance of a complaint from one Mohammad Riyazuddin, a resident of Kalaburagi, alleging that female students from Muslim community are not being allowed to enter classes wearing hijab since December 31 last year in Government PU Girls Colleges, Udupi by the public servants. The controversy further aggravated after a group of non-Muslim students wore saffron scarves in protest against Muslim students wearing hijab during classes, reasoning that if students are allowed to wear hijabs, they should be permitted to wear saffron scarves and shawls. The college administration has reasoned that wearing of hijabs is in violation of the dress code which has been followed for several decades. It also clarified that the women students are allowed to wear hijabs in classrooms, but not during classes. Meanwhile, the government plans to constitute an expert committee to find ways to introduce college uniforms. (UNI)