A new controversy has erupted in Mumbai regarding religious attire in educational institutions, with a prominent leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) criticizing a college for implementing a ban on the burqa inside classrooms after students had already been admitted.
Jahanara Shaikh, an Advocate and the Vice-President of the AIMIM Mumbai Women’s Wing, issued a strong statement against the college administration, highlighting the perceived unfairness of the sudden change in regulations.
Code of Conduct Changed Post-Admission
Shaikh emphasized that the college's actions were unjust because students were not given prior notice about the strict uniform rules banning the burqa.
"They say that girls cannot wear a burqa in the class. We believe that if such a code of conduct were being developed, the girls should have been informed about it in advance," Shaikh stated.
She alleged that the administration created the new code of conduct after the admissions process was complete, noting that the previous, existing code of conduct did not contain any such restrictive clause regarding the burqa.
#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: Advocate and AIMIM Mumbai Women’s Wing vice-president, Jahanara Shaikh, says, "...They say that girls cannot wear a burqa in the class. We believe that if such a code of conduct were being developed, the girls should have been informed about it in… https://t.co/SjuYZIICmi pic.twitter.com/WmDohvQdW3
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2025
Students Told to Remove Burqa or Withdraw
Shaikh detailed the alleged harassment faced by the female students. She stated that girls were being singled out and instructed to remove their burqa before attending lectures, creating an environment of discomfort and discrimination.
The situation escalated when college staff reportedly gave the students an ultimatum. Shaikh reported:
"The teacher told them that if they have any objections, they can withdraw their admission..."
This directive, forcing students to choose between their education and their religious attire, has been vehemently condemned by the AIMIM leader and other activists as an attack on fundamental rights and a breach of trust, particularly given the timing of the rule change.
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between institutional uniform mandates and the right to practice one's religion in educational spaces. The AIMIM women's wing has vowed to take up the matter with the relevant educational authorities to protect the students' right to wear the burqa.
