Vijayapura, Karnataka: While the Karnataka High Court hears arguments on whether religious clothing should be permitted in educational institutions, another government college in the state has become a site of protest for dismissing students who insisted on wearing the hijab (headscarf) in class. The Government PU college in Vijayapura, north Karnataka, which previously permitted hijabs, did not permit students wearing hijabs to enter the classrooms today. The college administration claimed that they were simply following interim court orders that allowed schools and colleges to reopen on the condition that no religious clothing be worn in classrooms. The students, on the other hand, claim that the college failed to inform them that they would not be permitted to wear hijabs or burkhas.

Dramatic images from the college show some students who had entered the classroom wearing hijabs and burkhas arguing with the teacher and the school's principal, who had asked them to obey the court order.

"We are in accordance with the High Court's order, which states that no religious garment, whether hijab or saffron shawl, will be permitted inside educational institutions," the Principal can be heard saying.

Following a squabble, these students were given their own space inside the college to remove their hijabs and burkhas and enter the classrooms.

The Principal had stopped these students at the college's entrance, but they forced their way in and protested their denial of entry.

After being asked to leave, the students protested by raising "we want justice" slogans and expressing their anguish to the media present.

In the college videos, some female police officers can also be seen at the location.

On February 14, students at some Karnataka schools were ordered to remove their hijabs before entering the campus, in accordance with an interim High Court order that stated educational institutions could reopen (after being closed the previous week), but no religious clothing would be permitted.

Videos of women being asked to remove their religious clothing in public sparked a massive outcry on social media, with many calling the experience "humiliating."

The debate over Muslim students being barred from wearing the hijab began in December, when six girls from Karnataka's Udupi district expressed their displeasure. They then went to the Supreme Court.

Since then, it has snowballed into a major issue, with the Supreme Court also being approached.

However, Chief Justice of India NV Ramana stated, "We will intervene only when necessary."

Protests have erupted in recent weeks, with a young student in Mandya being heckled by saffron-clad male aggressors shouting 'Jai Shri Ram.'