Patna, March 1 (IANS): The Patna High Court on Tuesday sought the defence ministry's reply on how hundreds of youth appearing for an army recruitment examination were forced to take off their clothes in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, a lawyer said.

Over 1,000 candidates appearing in the examination for the post of clerk were on Sunday asked to sit in only their underwear to prevent cheating.

After taking cognizance of the reports in a local Hindi daily, the court expressed its concern over the issue and sought a reply from the defence ministry, the lawyer said.

The court will hear the case next on April 3.

Army authorities said that in the past, the candidates used to hide slips with answers and other high tech gadgets to help them cheat inside their clothes.

The candidates sat cross-legged on the ground in their briefs and used their thighs as a table for the one-hour test. 

Though some complained of cold and discomfort, they had no choice.