Indian school tells Muslim teacher not to wear 'Abaya'

New Delhi : Delhi Public School (DPS), Srinagar faced a lot of criticism after it reportedly barred a Muslim teacher from wearing 'Abaya'.

According to local reports, Delhi Public School has allegedly decided to bar a Muslim woman teacher from wearing her Abaya in the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Seemingly angry over school's decision in the poll season, the Mehbooba Mufti-led government sent a stern message to the DPS management saying Jammu and Kashmir was not France where the government or any institute could decide the dress code for the people.

Soon after the incident, the teacher resigned while students boycotted classes and sought an apology from the school management. They also demanded that the teacher, who taught biology, be recalled, reported The Indian Express.

This issue was raised in the state assembly by MLA Engineer Abdul Rashid who called such a ban "in a Muslim state" condemnable, according to Hindustan Times.

State Education Minister Naeem Akhtar likened the school's move to France where the government has banned headscarves, turbans and such religious symbols in public.

"We live in a multi-religious, multi-cultural set-up. We have a secular fabric (and) no force on any such issue will be accepted. We are not France," said Akhtar in the J & K Assembly.

The Hindu reported that, teachers say that it's been the school's policy for a while to discourage people to wear the cloak to work.

The institution today apologised earlier today for "unintentionally hurting sentiments", reports NDTV.