KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday allowed female Muslim candidates to wear hijab (head-scarf) while appearing for the entrance examination to be conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on May 28.
The court, however, also made it clear the students wearing head scarves should be present at the examination venue an hour before the scheduled time. If required, a woman invigilator can frisk them, the court said while issuing the order on a batch of petitions challenging the decision to ban headgear and scarf inside the examination hall.
The petitioners had submitted the prohibition was against the mandate in Article 14 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child.
AIIMS representatives told the court it had asked the students to reach the examination centre early to allow adequate time for frisking, in case their religion or customs required them to wear headgear.
The students and parents had earlier complained about the dress code after headgear and scarves were listed as prohibited items in the guidelines mentioned on the admit cards for the entrance examination.