SHIVAMOGGA: After tension for five days over dress code, classes resumed in Sahyadri Arts and Commerce and Science Colleges on Tuesday amid tight police security. After two days of protest by students against wearing burka despite there being a proper dress code, the college administration had declared three days of holiday till Monday. After a discussion with the district administration, police, university and student representatives, the college allowed the students to wear burka and saffron shawls with the uniform. On Tuesday, the classes started as usual amid tight police security.
Muslim girls came to college wearing burqa while some students wore saffron shawls. In order to avoid outsiders from entering college premises, the students who have the identity cards were only allowed inside the college campus. To identify the illegal activities inside the college campus, the college administration has installed additional CCTV cameras. Additional Superintendent of Police Vincent Shantakumar, DySP Manjunath Shetty and other officers beefed up the security arrangements to avoid any untoward incidents. IGP (Eastern Range) M A Saleem visited the college and took stock of the situation.
Meanwhile, the police have served a notice to the college administration to implement the dress code strictly to ensure law and order situation in the college and avoid the entry of outsiders into the college campus. Dress code to continue Sahyadri Arts and Commerce College principal Dr BC Gouder Shivannanavar said that based on the request of the students in the meeting held with the district administration and police department, it was decided to continue the uniform and allow students to wear burka and saffron shawls over the uniforms.
Shivannanavar told reporters that though the uniform was introduced in the college two years ago, the college did not take the permission either from the university or the government. Even then, based on the college administration’s decision, it was being followed. Following last week’s confusion, the dress code would be continued for the next two months as per the direction of the university and State Council of Higher Education. Earlier, the Muslim girlstudents were asked to remove the burqa inside the college campus.