Court Moved Against Dress Code for Entrance Test

KOCHI: A female candidate belonging to the Muslim community, who is preparing for the All-India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Test-2015, on Friday approached the Kerala High Court against the strict dress code stipulated for writing the examination.

The petitioner, Nadha Raheem of Olavakode in Palakkad, stated that if she wears the ‘hijab’ as per the religious custom, she might not be permitted to appear for the examination. The Central Board of Secondary Education has stipulated a dress code in the provisional admit card issued to her, asking candidates to wear half-sleeve shirt/T-shirt/kurta not having very large buttons, brooch or badge, with trouser/salwar etc.. Candiates have also been asked to wear open slippers, instead of shoes.   “The petitioner, being a person who follows the religion of Islam ardently and strictly, is religiously obliged to observe and follow the Quaranic injunctions and the Sunnah of Prophet embodied in the hijab rule. ‘Khumur and Jilbab’ is the dress code prescribed by the Quran and Sunnah,” stated the petition.

  The petitioner submitted that the dress code for women was an essential tenet of Islamic faith and practice, and that she was following the tenet of her religion by adhering to the commandments of Islam, regarding hijab.   According to her, stipulation of dress code is illegal and unconstitutional. She sought a directive to permit her to appear for the examination without insisting on the dress code.

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