KEA does a u-turn, bans headscarf to prevent malpractices in recruitment exam

NEW DELHI: The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has banned candidates from wearing any clothing on head to prevent malpractices in the exam. This could also mean that wearing hijab is also prohibited in the recruitment exam.

After the Karnataka education minister MC Sudhakar in October allowed candidates to wear hijab during competitive exams, the KEA also gave its permission for the exam held on October 28 and 29.

However, in the November recruitment exam guidelines issued recently, it said: “Wearing of cap or any other clothing on the head is prohibited to prevent the use of bluetooth devices in the examination room.” The KEA recruitment exam 2023 will be held on November 18 and 19.

In October, MC Sudhakar instructed students wearing hijab to reach the test centres one hour before the commencement of the exam for frisking. "They (students) will be thoroughly checked. We don't want any sort of malpractice. This is even allowed in the NEET entrance exam," the minister was quoted as saying, as per a report.

The Karnataka examination authority has allowed candidates to wear ‘mangalsutra’ but not any kind of metal jewellery.

Women candidates are prohibited from wearing any kind of metal jewellery. (Except Mangalsutra and Kalungura). Electronic devices, mobile phones, pen drives, ear phones, microphones, bluetooth devices and wrist watches are also not allowed inside the examination hall.

Besides head scarf, KEA has also prohibited candidates from wearing of cap. They should not wear any type of mask.

After the October KEA recruitment exam notification, Hindu organisations staged protests across the state against the state government’s permission to Muslim students to wear hijab.

The hijab row has been ongoing since 2022 after the pre-university in Udupi denied entry to students wearing hijab inside classrooms.