Every few months the Internet is abuzz with the familiar outrage that a Muslim girl was stopped from appearing for a competitive exam because she was wearing a hijab.
You can’t stop corruption, rape, murder, lynching but you are so proudly and openly violating our fundamental rights.#HumanRightsViolations#RightToReligionViolation #HijabIsMyRight#MYDignity#WomenRights @NCWIndia @sioindia @UgcNetJrfExam @TMadikeri
— Umaiyah Khan (@UmaiyahK) December 20, 2018
It invariably boils down to religion. Muslims vs the rest of the country.
Dear @cbseindia29 this is a gross violation of Constitutional norms. There is no rule that says that you can’t wear a headscarf. In December, both men and women go to exams early morning wearing woollen caps, mufflers and shawls over their heads anyway. Why single out a hijab? https://t.co/Op9wU3NzC0
— Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) December 20, 2018
However, that is not true. It is not just hijab, but scarves, jewellery and mufflers are asked to be taken out before entering the examination hall. It is just a rule.
Don’t spread Lies. All kinds of woolen caps and mufflers are asked to be taken out by the examiners in UGC-NET. In December 2015, I also had to take my woolen cap off. You would know if you were a serious PhD student Shehla. UGC NET is a compulsory qualification ? https://t.co/bB9ByKnTMw
— Monica (@TrulyMonica) December 20, 2018
Why do Muslims ask for special privileges in everything?
Now don’t talk about Muslims being minority and repressed because I am also a Jain and a ‘real’ minority— Hiral (@HiralShah27) December 20, 2018
In the NET (National Eligibility Test), which is mandatory for the pursuing PhD, conducted in July this year candidates were asked to remove their mangalsutra and rings too before entering the examination hall. In a competitive exam in Telangana held in September this year, the candidates were asked to remove the mangalsutra too. The women repeatedly asserted that the direction went against their religious sentiments but the officials refused to heed their requests. Husbands of those affected could be seen protesting outside the school with the Mangalsutra of their wives in their hands. In another competitive exam CTET in Uttarakhand, women candidates were asked to remove mangalsutra, bangles, anklets and toe-rings too.
In 2015, for All India Pre Medical Entrance Test, the CBSE had issued an adisory banning had scarves to prevent copying during exams, which was even backed by the Supreme Court.
