The National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted twice every year is one of the top-notch competitive examinations in India. With every competitive exam, whether it be NEET, JEE or CLAT, comes some controversy, particularly from those who don’t like their fashion sense to be disturbed during these examinations. Such exams do not allow candidates to wear or take certain susceptible items to the examination hall, which include watches, rings, sports shoes, scarfs, wallets, etc.
In two separate incidents, two women were asked to remove their hijab’s before entering the examination rooms. Safina Khan Soudagar was asked to remove her hijab, which she refused. The officers in-charge then asked her to show them her ear for identification and checking purposes. This obviously outraged the lady, who said her faith comes first and that academics can be compromised.
Another woman, Umaiyah Khan of New Delhi was asked to remove her hijab for the same reasons. She, however, took to Twitter to call out the ‘male chauvinism’ of the government ‘servants’. Of course, bringing the government into petty issues is all that such people can do.
It clearly says in Constitution that we are free to follow any religion yet this chauvinistic government servants didn't let me appear in my NETJRF 20dec2018 exam because I was convincing them to let me cover my head and it's in my religion.#Shame_india @NCWIndia@sioindia
— Umaiyah Khan (@UmaiyahK) December 20, 2018
Shehla Rashid, who is on a self-imposed exile from Twitter, erupted out of the blue to educate us illiterate masses about the rules and regulations of CBSE.
Dear @cbseindia29 this is a gross violation of Constitutional norms. There is no rule that says that you can't wear a headscarf. In December, both men and women go to exams early morning wearing woollen caps, mufflers and shawls over their heads anyway. Why single out a hijab? https://t.co/Op9wU3NzC0
— Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) December 20, 2018
Important to note is that UGC administrates these exams, and the exams are conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). How CBSE regulations can apply to these exams is something I can’t wrap my head around. Until recently, even Sikh candidates were not allowed to wear a kada and kirpan to the centers. It was only after Court orders that the rules were relaxed only for Sikhs. How then, can we blame officers present at the centers who are dutifully carrying out their responsibilities? Speaking of the hijab, it is a blind man’s guess that there is a high possibility of hiding chits of paper or even communication devices such as Bluetooth, underneath it. In such a scenario, will candidates still throw a tantrum at the officials present and cry ‘Islamophobia’ and chauvinism? Moreover, the Delhi Minorities Commission clearly mandates that the hijab of women candidates CAN be checked by officials at the examination center.
Perhaps Shehla forgot to mention this while sympathizing with the woman who accused the government servants of male chauvinism. Umaiyah Khan then went on to accuse the government of not stopping ‘rape, lynching, corruption and murder’. Should we not hold this individual to account for spreading absolute falsehoods and fanning propaganda while playing the victim card?
Rules are rules. Do not participate if you cannot follow them. Period.