By Mumtaz Alam, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 10 July 2015: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a controversial dress code for the 25th July AIPMT (All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Test). The dress code issued on Thursday (9th July) has banned scarf, full-sleeve kurta among other things. The dress code has angered Muslim parents whose daughters wear Hijab and are candidates of AIPMT. Scarf and full-sleeve kurta are the minimum part of Islamic Hijab.
The notification no. 3282 dated 9th July 2015 has point No. 7 that carries the dress code:
“The candidates will observe the following dress code while coming for appearing in AIPMT Examination: a) Wear light clothes with half sleeves Shirt/T-Shirt/Kurta not having big buttons, brooch or any badge, flower and Trouser/Salwar etc. b) Wear open slippers and not the shoes.”
As scarf and full-sleeve kurta are considered among the minimum parts of Islamic Hijab, the ban on these two items has angered Muslim parents.
“There is very strange and objectionable requirement for retest in AIPMT. Scarf not allowed, full sleeve kurta not allowed. This should be protested immediately…” says Hamid Akhtar whose daughter is set to attend the AIPMT on 25th July.
Akhtar is so angry that he said he will take his daughter to exam centre in Hijab and if not allowed in, they will walk out.
“I will take my daughter to test centre and will resist. If not allowed, will walk out,” Akhtar told IndiaTomorrow.net.
CBSE notification on AIPMT dress code
The notification also bans items which are normally banned in examinations, but it has also banned scarf. The banned items include mobile, calculator, camera, hair pin, hair band, charm/tabeez belts, cap, scarf etc.
Reacting sharply over the AIPMT dress code, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has asked the CBSE to withdraw it as it is violating both constitutional and religious freedom of Muslims.
“Such dress code is against our freedom. Second, wearing scarf and full-sleeve kurta etc is necessary as per teachings of Islam. If you prohibit someone from wearing it you will be violating the religious freedom and the freedom enshrined in the Constitution of the country. Issuing such instructions is not proper,” said Mohammad Salim Engineer, Secretary General of Jamaat.
He demanded CBSE to withdraw the dress code.
“Banning electronic gadgets like mobile, camera or calculator for exam can be understood and supported but banning scarf and full-sleeve kurta is highly objectionable because according to Islamic teachings, Muslim girls have to wear them. We demand the CBSE to withdraw this portion of dress code (that bans scarf and full-sleeve kurta) because it is against freedom and religious freedom,” he said.
Hamid Akhtar has also demanded the CBSE to withdraw the instruction.
“Though I have mailed to AIPMT to remove these instructions, but I don’t expect any hearing. Can someone take up this matter to higher authorities?” Hamid Akhtar asked in his email to IndiaTomorrow.net.
IndiaTomorrow.net contacted AIPMT head office in Delhi but calls were not picked.
AIPMT is an All India medical entrance test for 15% seats of all State owned medical colleges in the country and is a very good opportunity for students to take admission in prestigious government colleges.
The CBSE is re-conducting the AIPMT on 25th July after the Supreme Court asked the Board to conduct the test again following allegations of large-scale irregularities in the AIPMT exam held on 3rd May.
