Pvt law college near Kolkata bans hijab, withdraws decision after outcry
A private law college near Kolkata recently allegedly banned a teacher from wearing hijab at the workplace, leading to her resignation. After the matter came to light and caused a furore, the college reversed its decision and asked the teacher to rejoin work.
The teacher’s name is Sanjida Qadar, who teaches at LJD Law College in Falta in South 24 Parganas district, affiliated to the University of Calcutta.
She has been teaching there for the last three years. But she was recently told that she cannot wear a hijab at the college after May 31. Refusing to abide by the illegal decision, she resigned on June 5.
A hijab is a head covering worn by some Muslim women, often as a scarf wrapped around the head to cover the hair, neck and ears while leaving the face visible. The word ‘hijab’ is Arabic for ‘cover’ or ‘barrier’.
However, after the matter came to light and naturally, led to a heated debate, the college quickly ascribed Sanjida’s decision to resign to a miscommunication and said the teacher would withdraw her resignation and return to work on June 11.
