The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has announced a dress code for the recruitment exams of various boards and corporations to be held on November 18 and 19 across the State and stated that wearing “any garment or cap that covers head, mouth or ears” will not be allowed in the exam hall. The order says that this is part of the effort to stop exam malpractices using bluetooth devices.
Though the dress code does not explicitly ban hijab, it is implied by the new guidelines. Earlier women wearing hijab had to be at the exam centres early for a thorough check, following which they were allowed into the halls.
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“We are only taking all precautions strictly to avoid malpractice in the examination. Last time, some candidates used Bluetooth devices while writing the exam. Therefore, this time we have imposed the dress code and restricted any garments that cover the head, mouth or ears,” S. Ramya, Executive Director, KEA, told The Hindu.
Earlier malpractice
The State government on Saturday ordered a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into an alleged scam in which candidates at Kalaburagi and Yadgir examination centres used Bluetooth devices for writing the exams conducted by the KEA in October, 2023.
Meanwhile, in another development, after opposition by various Hindutva groups and political leaders of BJP, the KEA has decided to allow women to enter the hall wearing mangalasutra and toe ring (markers of a married Hindu woman) which were earlier not allowed, along with other items of metal jewellery. The circular specifically mentions that these two items are exempted from dress code on jewellery.
History of ban
In 2022, the Supreme Court had upheld the State government’s decision on hijab ban in the classrooms which came under the jurisdiction of the Department of School Education and Literacy in Karnataka. Further, State government had extended this order to other Board exams like Class X and Class XII and also Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted by the KEA. But there is a separate dress code for entrance exams like NEET, JEE and others.
Also read: Split over hijab: On the Supreme Court verdict
But so far there was no specific restriction on hijab for the recruitment exams conducted by the KEA. Therefore, KEA had allowed hijab in exam held on October 28, 29 and 30, 2023. As all metal jewellery is restricted, women were not allowed to wear mangalasutra and toerings in the hall. However, various Hindutva groups had protested against this. In an apparent bid to avoid controversy, these two have now been given exception.
According to the dress code, wearing any type of jewellery, high-heeled footwear, clothes with elaborate embroidery or bottom work, jeans pants, T-shirts are restricted for girls. Boys should wear only half-sleeve shirts and pants, with sandals, and cannot tuck in their shirt.
