KEA prepares to submit report on sacred thread row during CET, to decide on Bidar student

BENGALURU: The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) is preparing to submit a report to the government regarding the incident where a student was allegedly denied entry to the CET exam in Bidar after he refused to cut or remove the sacred thread that he was wearing.

After the controversy took a political turn, the government has sought a report. Brahmin organisations have condemned the incident and demanded action from the government. The KEA has already sought a detailed report from the deputy commissioners of Bidar and Shivamogga, including the cause of the incident and whether it was intentional.

The content included in the KEA report

There was no lapse on the part of KEA in the incident.

The incident occurred at only one exam centre each in Shivamogga and Bidar.

The irresponsible behaviour of exam staff led to the incident.

KEA guidelines do not permit any disrespect to caste or religion.

Guidelines were communicated to all centres 12 days prior to the exam.

The incident was unacceptable, and not allowing a student to sit for the exam for wearing a sacred thread was wrong.

District Commissioners are responsible for exam centres, KEA has no role in this.

KEA has sought reports from the two districts and will take action against staff who committed the mistake once the reports are received.

Justice will be served to the CET student, according to KEA rules.

The Bidar incident is being considered a special case. Conducting a re-exam for one student is a big risk and hence, the KEA has decided to take steps to ensure the student is not wronged.

Since the student didn’t take the mathematic exam, he won’t be eligible for an engineering seat. To address this, KEA is considering awarding marks for math and providing a rank.

A decision is likely to be taken by the KEA tomorrow, as it has already sought a report from DC. There is a possibility of giving marks under special cases for the mathematics subject. The KEA will even award a rank if the government approves it.

What will the ranking process involve:

Reviewing the student’s PUC marks in math before ranking.

Considering the student’s PUC exam marks along with CET exam marks in 3 subjects.

Calculating average marks for math based on PUC and CET performance.