New Delhi, July 25, DHNS: The Supreme Court on Friday turned down a plea by a students’ organisation seeking permission to wear headscarf or any other form of headgear related to their faith during the All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Test (AIPMT) re-exam on Saturday.
A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice H L Dattu said that faith would not disappear if the scarf was not worn on a particular day in compliance with the norms.
“On a day when you have to sit for exam, you are being asked not to wear it. Your faith won’t disappear if you go in the exam without scarf,” the bench told petitioner Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) of India, represented by senior advocate Sanjay Hegde. The bench, also comprising Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy, pointed out it was a “small issue” and the court was not required to interfere into it.
SIO challenged the CBSE notification mandating a dress code for the candidates appearing in the AIPMT. The CBSE issued directives to thwart all possibilities of cheating and paper leaks, which had prompted the apex court to cancel the May 3 exam and order a re-test. Among others, the notification asked candidates not to wear headscarves and to wear “light clothes” with half sleeves and open footwear.
“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,” the bench said.
Hegde, however, contended, “If I have to adhere to my religious practices, I will have to give up on my exam in view of the directives.”
The bench, reminding counsel how the court scrapped the exam after hearing a batch of petitions during summer break, said “this is nothing but ego”. The court prodded the students to sit in exam as faith is something different and subject to reasonable restrictions. Sensing the mood of the court, the counsel preferred to withdraw the petition.