Karnataka Government Withdraws Award for Principal After Protests

The Karnataka government has decided not to honor BG Ramakrishna, the principal of Kundapura PU College, with the ‘Best Principal’ award following protests from the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). Initially, Ramakrishna was selected for this award by the Karnataka education department, which annually recognizes outstanding principals on Teacher’s Day.

SDPI’s Opposition

The SDPI, a political party linked to the banned extremist organization PFI, strongly objected to Ramakrishna receiving the award. The controversy stemmed from Ramakrishna’s enforcement of a hijab ban in February 2022, which led to significant unrest in the state.

Hijab Ban Controversy

BG Ramakrishna had implemented a rule that prohibited female students from wearing hijabs in the classroom, sparking widespread protests and discussions throughout Karnataka. In response to the backlash, Ramakrishna was informed by the Education Department that his award would be temporarily withheld due to “technical reasons,” although the award itself has not been officially canceled.

Decision to Avoid Further Controversy

Following the protests from SDPI and other groups, which included numerous social media criticisms, the education department opted to delay presenting the award to Ramakrishna to prevent further controversy. This decision reflects the department’s attempt to mitigate additional disputes over the issue.