Office of the KEA in Bengaluru. The student in Bidar alleged that despite his pleadings that he be allowed to write the exam, the officials insisted that he first remove the ‘sacred thread’.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A controversy has erupted over the alleged denial of entry for a student to write the Common Entrance Test (CET) wearing his ‘janivara’ (‘sacred thread’) at Sai Spoorthy College examination centre in Bidar city on Thursday.

According to sources, the student, Suchivrat Kalyan of Guru Nanak Independent PU College, had to return home without appearing for the mathematics exam on Thursday, after the screening committee at the examination centre objected to his entering the examination hall with the ‘sacred thread’ and allegedly forced him to remove it.

Even though the student pleaded with the officials to permit him to write the exam it was rejected. The officials, it is said, insisted that he remove the ‘sacred thread’ if he wanted to enter the examination hall. Eventually, the student refused to obey their orders and left the centre without writing the mathematics paper.

Surprisingly, the officials allowed him to appear for the biology exam wearing the ‘sacred thread’ in the afternoon session on Thursday. He was also allowed to take the physics and chemistry papers on the previous day (Wednesday) at the same examination centre.

“The staff and officials conducting checks at the entrance stopped only me and allowed others to enter the examination hall after checks. I returned home after requesting them for more than half an hour,” Suchivrat told to presspersons.

Suo motu complaint

The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has filed a suo motu case and urged the exam authorities to allow him to write the exam as it would impact his career prospects.

“I met the student and parents and got detailed information about what exactly happened. We have filed a suo motu case against the institution that prevented the student from entering the examination hall by demanding to remove the ‘janivara’.  The KSCPCR will conduct an inquiry. If any officials are found guilty, it will recommend the government to take stringent action against the culprits,” KSCPCR member Shashidhar Kosumbe told The Hindu over phone.

BJP State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra condemned the action of the authorities and termed it a serious affront to religious sentiment.

“The State government must take strict action against those responsible,” he said during his brief interaction with the mediapersons in Kalaburagi on Friday.