Student Police Cadets must not wear hijab, says Kerala Government

In a statement on Thursday, the Kerala government said that students cannot wear hijab and full sleeves as part of the uniform of Student Police Cadets. Riza Nahan, a student at GHSS, Kuttiadi in Kozhikode, filed a petition with the government.

The plea was initially filed with the Kerala High Court which redirected it to the government. The government, after careful examination of the facts, was fully satisfied that the demand of the complainant was not considerable, the order copy said. The government order also said that if such a waiver is considered in the Student Police Cadet project, similar demands will be made on other similar forces, which will significantly affect the secularism of the state.

"Therefore, it is not appropriate to give any indication such that religious symbols are highlighted in the uniform under the Student Police Cadet project," the order copy stated.

The Student Police Cadet (SPC) Project is a school-based initiative by Kerala Police, implemented jointly by the Departments of Home and Education, and supported by the Departments of Transport, Forest, Excise, and Local Self-Government. The project trains high school students to evolve as future leaders of a democratic society by inculcating in them respect for the law, discipline, civic sense, empathy for vulnerable sections of society, and resistance to social evils.

The project also enables youth to explore and develop their innate capabilities, thereby empowering them to resist the growth of negative tendencies such as social intolerance, substance abuse, deviant behavior, and anti-establishment violence. Equally, it strengthens their commitment to their family, the community, and the environment.

Published on: Friday, January 28, 2022, 12:35 PM IST