Amid the escalating hijab row in India’s Karnataka state, the government has now ordered a ban on “clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public order” in schools and colleges, reported Indian news outlet India Today.

Section 133(2) 0f the Karnataka Education Act-1983 has been invoked according to which it is compulsory to wear a uniform style of clothes. The section gives the private school administration complete right to choose a uniform of its choice.

The government order states that, “In the event of the administrative committee not selecting a uniform, clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public law and order should not be worn.”

"The education department has noticed that in some education institutions, the boys and girls have started behaving according to their religion, which hurts the equality and unity," said the order.

The Basavaraj Bommai government of Karnataka claimed that the order is for “benefit of all students,” adding that a uniform leave no room for discrimination.

Karnataka has witnessed a rise in controversy over Muslim girls wearing a hijab since the last month. India’s right wing groups in Udupi and Chikkamagaluru took a stand against students wearing hijab during classes.

Muslim girls were stopped at the gate of Kundapur Pre-University College in Udupi district and denied entrance into classes for wearing hijab last week. The controversy spread through Karnataka like wildfire and Hindu students showed up at different schools and college wearing saffron scarves around their necks.

On Saturday, a heated protest took place in Karnataka where a group of students marched to their college wearing saffron scarves and chanting the slogan “Jai Shri Ram (praise Lord Ram).”

The controversy has reached the high court. On Tuesday, the Karnataka High Court will hear filed by five Muslim students of the government pre-university college in Udupi, questioning hijab restrictions.

The row has also taken a political turn with the Congress leaders supporting the right of Muslim girl students to wear hijab, while the ruling BJP said it will not allow “Talibanisation” of education institutes.