Panaji, Jan 6(TNN): Goa director of higher education Prasad Lolayekar has written to the National Testing Agency (NTA), under the Union ministry for human resource development, stating that the conductors and examiners for the National Eligibility Test (NET) should be sensitised towards personal liberties and religious sentiments.

Lolayekar has written to the NTA after 24-year-old aspiring teacher, Safina Khan Soudagar, alleged that she was not allowed to answer the NET held in December 2018 because she was wearing a hijab.

Stating that there appear to be no instructions given on a ‘dress code’ prior to the exam, Lolayekar said that in the future, NTA needs to give clear instructions about the permissible dress code.

“Prime facia, it appears that there are no rules specified on the website or elsewhere concerning the exams, especially with regards to restrictions on hijab or any particular dress code. Therefore, she (Soudagar) should have been allowed to appear for the exam. If, for any reason, the hijab is not allowed, the same should be clearly mentioned in the instructions. We also feel that the conductor and examiners should be sensitive towards personal liberties and religious sentiments,” Lolayekar said.

Soudagar has alleged that she was denied permission to appear for NET held on December 18, 2018 at the exam centre in Patto, Panaji, under the afternoon shift.

“The undersigned would like a copy of written instructions issued to various examination centres, including the one mentioned above, on the acceptable dress code while appearing for the NET. Similarly, a copy of do’s and dont’s issued to the students may also be furnished at the earliest,” said Lolayekar.

Lolayekar has sent the NTA a copy of Soudagar’s narration of the ‘harassment’ which occurred on the day of the exam. “We would appreciate if clear instructions are specified on the website/admit card so that candidates are aware of the terms and conditions regarding the dress code, specially keeping in mind all faiths,” said Lolayekar.