Allahabad High Court rules headscarf not an essential religious practice in Islam
A Division Bench dismissed a Class 11 student's petition seeking permission to wear a hijab with her school uniform at Tagore Public School in Prayagraj. The court held the practice has not been established as essential.
Prayagraj1 min read
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The Allahabad High Court, in an order dated 21 August 2026 and reported on 25 August, held that wearing a headscarf has not been established as an essential religious practice for women in Islam.
A Division Bench of Justices J.J. Munir and Indrajeet Shukla dismissed a petition filed by a Class 11 Muslim student at Tagore Public School in Prayagraj. The student sought permission to wear a hijab with her school uniform, arguing that the practice was protected under Articles 14 and 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. She stated she had worn the headscarf from Class 6 without prior objection.
The court examined the claim under the essential religious practices doctrine and concluded that the headscarf does not meet the threshold. The petition was therefore rejected.
The ruling adds to a series of high-court decisions across states that have examined the same question in the context of school and college dress codes. It does not create a nationwide ban; it decides only the petition before the Allahabad High Court.
School authorities had maintained that the uniform policy applied equally to all students. The court's finding that the practice is not essential under Indian constitutional law removes the basis for an exemption in this case.
The student and her family may still pursue further remedies, but the High Court order stands as the current position on the specific facts presented.
