Medical students have also suggested adopting long-sleeved scrub jackets and surgical hoods as alternative attire.

In a move to revive the debate over hijab, seven students of a medical college in Kerala have written to the principal asking how to strike a balance between following hijab rules and performing surgical duties.

The students, who are studying MBBS at the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram, said in a letter to the college authorities that according to their religious beliefs, "it is mandatory for Muslim women to wear the hijab in all circumstances..."

"Hijab-wearing Muslims find it difficult to strike a balance between wearing religious attire and following hospital and operation room rules," the letter added.

The letter further suggests options based on the options offered by apparel manufacturers for healthcare workers and surgical procedures in other parts of the world.

"Long-sleeved scrub jackets and surgical hoods are available, making it possible to maintain the hijab while taking hygiene precautions," the letter said. The letter requested the principal to allow them to wear them at the earliest.

Principal Dr. Lynette Morris has said that a committee has been formed to discuss the demand of the students. The principal told the media, "The demand of the students cannot be accepted at the moment... International standards are maintained in operation theatres, and patient safety is paramount."

Stating that he cannot take a decision on the matter alone, he said the committee constituted for it will find a solution within 10 days.

The students' request comes in the backdrop of developments in Karnataka last year when the then BJP government banned the hijab on educational campuses. Public opinion was divided on this issue. One section argued that religious traditions had no place in educational institutions and another saw the ban on hijab as an attack on the rights of minorities.

After this, the matter went to court, and the Karnataka High Court upheld the government's order, saying that hijab is not a mandatory practice in Islam. This decision was challenged in the Supreme Court. A two-judge bench delivered a split verdict, with one judge upholding the high court verdict and the other setting it aside. The Supreme Court has said that a bench of three judges will be formed to hear this case.