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A Keralite nun was today denied permission to take the the All India Pre Medical Entrance Test (AIPMT) here after she refused to remove her veil and Holy cross as required under the CBSE’s new dress code.

Sister Saiba, who was to take the test at the Jawahar central school here this morning, said she sought permission to write the examination with her veil and cross.

However, the school Principal told her about the guidelines issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). She then requested for a separate room to write the examination without the veil and cross, but it was not accepted by the school authorities, she told mediapersons.

“I requested that I may be given a separate room where I will remove the veil and cross and write the test, but that was not allowed,” she said.
The Principal told her that she was also a Christian and understood her plight, but as per CBSE guidelines, veil and Holy cross cannot be permitted inside the examination hall.

Many students were seen removing head scarfs, ear ringsand all other articles banned before entering the hall at various examination centres in the state. They were allowed inside only after body frisking.

SC to PMT students: Faith won’t disappear if you don’t wear scarf (hijab) one day

A bench led by Chief Justice H L Dattu called it a "small issue" and upheld the CBSE notification that prohibited wearing hijab.

The Supreme Court had yesterday refused to entertain plea of an Islamic organisation that Muslim girl applicants be allowed to wear ‘hijab’ (scarf), a customary religious dress, while appearing for the AIPMT.

“Faith is something different from wearing some kind of cloth,” a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu stated, adding the AIPMT was being held again at its direction and some “reasonable restrictions” were needed.

Kerala High Court had earlier granted conditional permission to two Muslim girls to appear for the test wearing hijab.

In the backdrop of large scale irregularities in the AIPMT held in May this year, the apex court had directed CBSE to conduct a second test following which CBSE imposed a strict dress code, banning jeweleries, hair pins, head scarf or veils, shoes, watches and all electronic devices.

Reacting to the incident, Syro Malabar Church spokesperson Father Paul Thelekkat, said it was “unfortunate” that the nun was not permitted to write the test.

“The Catholic church does not consider veil as the most important religious symbol of the Catholic faith. At the same time, we do not subscribe to the view of the Supreme court Chief Justice that 3-4 hours without veil does not make any difference. It does make and it is up to the citizen to take the decision”, he said here.

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to allow aspirants appearing for the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) to wear a hijab, saying that “your faith won’t disappear” if it is not worn on a particular day. The directive comes three days after the Kerala High Court allowed two Muslim girls to wear a headscarf and a full-sleeve dress for the July 25 test, on the condition that an invigilator can frisk them if required.
On Friday, a bench led by Chief Justice H L Dattu told the counsel for the petitioner, the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) of India: “On a day when you have to sit for an exam, you are being asked not to wear it. Your faith won’t disappear if you appear for the exam without a scarf.” The bench added that it was a “small issue” and the top court does not need to interfere in such matters.

“This court asked CBSE to re-conduct the exam. One petition is filed saying I should be allowed to wear a cap. Another petition is filed that I should be allowed to wear a kurta since it is my religious practice. Merely because you are wearing something different, should we be allowing such a prayer?” it added.

The Supreme Court had scrapped the May 3 AIPMT and re-scheduled the test amid reports that the question paper was leaked and electronic equipment was used to cheat.

The CBSE then issued a notification, which stated that “the candidates will not bring… items like belts, cap, scarf, etc” to the exam hall. It also asked the candidates to wear light clothes with half sleeves as well as open footwear.

It was this notification that the SIO, along with some candidates, challenged in the top court.

Appearing for the SIO, senior advocate Sanjay Hegde said that the dress code sought to meddle with the religious practices of a particular community. “If I have to adhere to my religious practices, I will have to give up on my exam,” he said.

But the bench retorted, saying “it was nothing but ego”. It told Hegde that the court sat in the summer vacation to hear the AIPMT case, and had ordered a re-test in light of the alleged irregularities.

“There were serious problems and we ordered for re-conducting the exam. Now the exam has to be held properly. What if everyone wears a scarf or something else and claims it to be a religious practice? Can an examiner start inquiring into everybody’s faith?” it said.

Suggesting that it was a reasonable restriction, the court said, “You may wear it after the exam. What is the problem? We don’t interfere with these kinds of small issues.”