Thiruvananthapuram : A nun who refused to remove her veil and holy cross was barred from writing the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) here on Saturday, in line with a Supreme Court ruling. “I was told I can’t sit for the exam in this dress,” Saiba told the media. “I told the officials that I can remove my veil and will put it on after they check my identity.
The refusal came after a Supreme Court directive early this week refusing to restrain the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) from enforcing a dress code for the AIPMT.
The bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu said CBSE’s ban on certain types of dresses was meant to prevent malpractices adopted by some candidates.
Sister Saiba came to a school to write the examination in her usual dress. “But they said that’s not possible, and I can write the exam only if I take off my head gear. I then decided to return,” Saiba said.
She also said the person who told her this was sympathetic to her condition. “He told me that he too is a Christian, but was sorry that he had to go by the rules,” added the nun.
Bovas Mathew, official spokesperson of the Syro Malankara Church to which Saiba belongs, described the incident as “really unfortunate”. “It’s really unfortunate that the Central government is not doing anything to resolve this issue,” Mathew told IANS. 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.
Many students were seen removing head scarfs, ear rings and all other articles banned before entering the hall at various examination centres in the state. They were allowed inside only after body frisking. On Friday, the Supreme Court had 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.
Dozens of students denied AIPMT exam for being ‘late’
Mumbai: Kendriya Vidylaya No.1 in Colaba and Arya Gurukul School in Kalyan (West) allegedly denied entry to 38 odd candidates for the All India Pre-Medical Entrance Test (AIPMT) examination on Saturday citing reason that the students came late. Aggrieved candidates protested and damaged the school property alleging that the schools closed the gates a few minutes before the scheduled time. Claiming that schools authorities have deprived their children of a prospective career, parents created a ruckus and broke the security cabins of Arya Gurukul School following which the school registered an FIR against unknown people.
