Students wearing sacred thread stopped from writing CET; KEA seeks report

BENGALURU: Brahmin groups are up in arms after two students — one in Bidar and another in Shivamogga — were stopped from entering the Common Entrance Test (CET) exam hall for wearing a sacred thread (janivara, janeyu). While the student in Shivamogga was allowed to write the test after his sacred threads were cut, the Bidar student was barred entry after he refused to remove it despite pleading with the college staff for about 45 minutes.

The students have lodged complaints with the district deputy commissioner. While one of the students noted that he waas allowed to write the CET in the morning session but denied entry in the afternoon session, the other said he was allowed on Wednesday, but stopped on Thursday. They also pointed out that the dress code for CET makes no mention of the sacred thread.

Following the controversy, Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) executive director Prasanna, said they will seek reports on the incidents. As per the CET regulations, aspirants should wear only half sleeve clothes, preferably without collars, boys’ trousers should not have pockets or can have small pockets, while kurta-pyjama, jeans, shoes, mobile phones, pen drivers, ear buds/earphones, microphones and other electronic devices are not allowed.

The two students now stare at an uncertain future as only those who write the CET are allotted seats in professional courses by the KEA which is conducting the entrance test.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa said no instruction was given to ask students to remove the sacred thread. “We will take action against those responsible after getting complete information. I will discuss with Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar regarding conducting re-exam for the aggrieved students”, he said.

Minister M C Sudhakar told Public TV, “I came to know about the Bidar and Shivamogga incidents from some friends. There is not directive from KEA to remove the sacred thread and the district deputy commissioner have the responsibility. We will definitely take action after getting a report.

In Bidar, Suchivrut, a resident of Choubar, who was attending the CET exam at Sai Spoorthi College centre at Gumpa, was denied entry for the mathematics paper. “I wanted to pursue engineering, but now mine and my parents’ dreams are shattered. The staff objected to me wearing the sacred thread saying that there were chances I could commit suicide inside the exam centre. I will lose an academic year and I want justice”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Akhila Karnataka Brahmin Mahasabha and organisations in Shivamogga have condemned the incident and have appealed to the DC to conduct an inquiry and to take action against those responsible.