The Allahabad High Court dismissed a petition filed by a Muslim student seeking permission to wear a hijab/headscarf with the prescribed school uniform. The petitioner argued that wearing the headscarf was an essential religious practice and that the school’s refusal violated Articles 14 and 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. The Court held that the petitioner failed to establish through sufficient pleadings or authoritative religious material that wearing a headscarf inside the classroom was obligatory or essential to Islam. The Court also held that the school had a legitimate authority to prescribe a uniform, bona fide and non-discriminatory dress code for maintaining discipline, equality and institutional identity. Earlier tolerance by the school did not create an enforceable right or estoppel. The Court considered the Karnataka High Court’s hijab ruling persuasive, while noting that the Supreme Court’s earlier split verdict had not finally settled the broader issue.