Connect with us
Monday,15-September-2025
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Mumbai College Sparks Outcry with Dress Code Ban On Religious Attire; Students Divided, Legal Battle Looms

Published

on

Mumbai: As Acharya Marathe College in Chembur continues to prohibit naqab, hijab, and burqa on the campus, the female Muslim students who wear this customary attire are chartering varied courses.

Following the Bombay High Court (HC) order upholding the college’s right to enforce a dress code, several students, including men, have left the college for other institutes. Among those still there, some have started taking off their coverings in the classrooms, while nine others who had moved HC against the restrictions are barred from classes.

About The Controversy

The college caused controversy in May after it introduced a ‘dress code’ for all undergraduates students, requiring them to only wear ‘formal’ and ‘decent’ clothes. Specifically forbidden are religious attire including hijab, naqab, burqa, stole, and cap. The diktat was challenged as “discriminatory and infringing on religious and personal freedoms”.

After a favourable order from the court on June 26, the college started evicting from classrooms not only those donning religious attire, but also those wearing torn and printed jeans and t-shirts. While the college refuses to relent, the petitioners are considering appealing before the Supreme Court. Even as they evaluate the implications, including the considerable cost, they make it a point to come to the college daily. They go to the college, get themselves pictured in front of the gate, and return home.

“We need to show that we intend to study here,” said one of them. However, a few others are choosing other colleges to avoid loss of education, without having to compromise on religion.

Students On The Hijab Row

Nisha Ansari, a second-year BSc student, said that she has applied for a leaving certificate. “I can’t bring myself to remove my naqab and burqa. Religion is important for me and I can’t lose my identity,” she said, adding, “I just hope to find a college that would allow me to wear them.” Inayatullah Shah, a third-year BCom student, also switched colleges after being asked to remove his skullcap.”

“I usually wear kurta, pajamas, and a cap. I tried explaining to college authorities that it’s a cultural dress, not a religious one. There’s a logical fallacy in what they are saying – there’s no correlation between clothes and academics. Education is all about hard and smart work, not about what you wear,” he said.

A considerable number of students have reluctantly fallen in line. A third-year science student, who earlier wore burqa, now attends without it. The staff wouldn’t even let her cover her head with a dupatta (shawl).

“I now just sit in a corner of the classroom and keep to myself,” she said.

Meanwhile, the college has softened towards other clothing items, as it now allows students to wear ‘plain’ jeans.

“The security lets us in if we have plain jeans on, but the printed ones are still not allowed,” said Samir Choudhary, a third-year BCom student.

Crime

Navi Mumbai Crime: Kharghar Lawyer Booked For Forged Minor Certificate With Fake Judge’s Seal In Panvel Land Deal

Published

on

Navi Mumbai: A lawyer from Kharghar has been booked by Panvel City Police for allegedly preparing a fake minor certificate bearing the forged seal and signature of an Additional Sessions Judge. The racket, exposed during a land transaction, comes close on the heels of the bogus heirship certificate scam in Panvel Court.

According to police, complainant Ladhavji Patel (57), a builder from Vashi, was negotiating to purchase a plot in Ulwe Sector 17 when one of the co-owners, Giridhar Ramakant Gharat, died leaving behind his wife and two minor children. Patel required a minor certificate from the court to complete the deal.

As the court procedure was delayed, Gharat’s cousin Sagar Gharat offered to get the certificate quickly through his lawyer for Rs 1 lakh. On September 10, he handed Patel a purported court order showing approval of the minor certificate, allegedly signed and sealed by Additional Sessions Judge D.E. Kothalikar.

Patel later verified the document in Panvel Court, only to find it was completely bogus. When questioned before the court, Sagar Gharat admitted that the document had been supplied by Advocate V.K. Sharma of Kharghar.

“We have registered a case of cheating and forgery against Advocate Sharma and begun further investigation,” said a police officer from Panvel City police station.

This case follows the November 2024 bogus heirship certificate scam in Panvel Court, in which forged heirship documents with fake signatures of judges and staff were circulated. In that case, police had registered four offences, arrested three lawyers, a court employee, and an agent, and filed a chargesheet in one matter, while probes in the others continue.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Interim order on Waqf law by Supreme Court is welcome, no power can last long in the face of truth: Arif Naseem Khan

Published

on

Mumbai: Congress Working Committee member and former Maharashtra minister Naseem Khan has warmly welcomed the interim order given by the Supreme Court on the Waqf Act and said that this decision of the court once again shows the mirror to the Modi government. The BJP government has the misconception that after getting an overwhelming majority in Parliament, it has got the right to trample the Constitution, but the court has made it clear that the biggest power in democracy is the Constitution, not the majority of any political party. This order of the Supreme Court is a tight slap on the arrogance of the Modi government and reminds that no one can suppress the voice of the Constitution.

In his statement to the media, Naseem Khan said that in the last several years, the BJP government has repeatedly made such laws which aim to target the weaker sections of the society and weaken the constitutional values. The Waqf Amendment Act is also a link in the same chain through which the government tried to curb the religious and social freedom of the minorities. However, this interim order of the Supreme Court has proved that the court is still the protector of constitutional rights and no government can be allowed to distort the structure of the Constitution in the arrogance of its power. He appealed to the people to have faith in constitutional institutions and believe that no power can last long in front of the truth. He said that today is a ray of hope for all those citizens who were worried about the implementation of this law for the last several months.

It is worth noting that last year the BJP government at the Center got the Waqf Amendment Bill passed in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on the basis of its numerical majority. Many petitions were filed against this law from different states of the country, in which the stance was taken that this amendment law is not only against the spirit of the Indian Constitution, but also directly attacks the constitutional rights of the minorities. Today, the Supreme Court of the country issued an important interim order and stayed the implementation of many provisions of this controversial amendment law. This decision not only weakened the government’s position, but also provided temporary relief to millions of people concerned about this law. This move of the court is being seen in political, social and legal circles as a demonstration of the supremacy of the Constitution.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Supreme Court’s decision on the Waqf Amendment Act restored confidence in the judiciary, the court accepted the objections and imposed a stay order on it: Rais Shaikh

Published

on

Mumbai: Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East Raees Sheikh has welcomed the interim stay granted by the Supreme Court on Monday on some provisions of the Waqf Board (Amendment) Act, 2025 and expressed satisfaction.

On the court’s decision, Raees Sheikh said that the committee of the Waqf Board can have a maximum of four non-Muslim members. That is, a majority of the 11 should be with Muslims. The court has directed that wherever possible, the Chief Executive Officer of the board should be a Muslim.

The condition for becoming a member of the Waqf Board was to practice Islam for five years. The provision was suspended saying that this provision will not be implemented until the government makes clear laws. Raees Sheikh said that the court’s clarification that the Waqf Board cannot be deprived of its property until the ownership of the Waqf property is decided by the Waqf Tribunal and the High Court is a slap in the face of the central government.

This decision is temporary. No decision can be made until the rules of this law are formulated. But this interim decision is satisfactory and increases confidence in the court.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending