ONGOING CONTROVERSY:Couture Communalism: Law, Religion and Public Perception

The ongoing controversy in the colleges of Karnataka over wearing of uniform has now assumed gigantic proportions with multiple narratives and hues, the prominent being the religious.

- TAPAN R. MOHANTY

The ongoing controversy in the colleges of Karnataka over wearing of uniform has now assumed gigantic proportions with multiple narratives and hues, the prominent being the religious. A simple directive of educational department of the state and its execution by the colleges have put the entire episode into the domain of law, politics and ideology both at national and international level drawing a comment from Pakistan. Though the matter is now referred to the Court and can be called subjudice but an academic analysis will only help in understanding the issue and create an awareness. In fact, the rulings from the Court on these issues have never been uniform and have settled the debate forever rather it has only stokes further debates and disharmony a la, Sahabano vs Mohammad Aslam Khan (1986). In fact, these issues should not have to gone to the court in the first place and it only compromises the role of the superior courts which are supposed to deal with interpretation of Constitution and find legality. In the larger interest of the nation and from the perspective of the identity of the nationhood and integrity of education I would like to surmise the following points to buttress my argument in favour of the government.