By IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 23 July 2015: In view of strong opposition from Muslim women candidates and critical media reporting, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday allowed some flexibility in the dress code for the 25th July AIPMT (All India Pre-Medical Test), said Press Trust of India news agency. The CBSE in a statement said there would be “no bar” on wearing customary dress and for candidates who are appearing in centres in extreme climatic conditions. However, such candidates should ensure their presence for frisking at least half an hour before the last reporting time of 9:30 AM, it said in a statement.
The CBSE on 9th July had issued a controversial dress code banning scarf, full-sleeve kurta among other things. The dress code had 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 had angered Muslim parents and students.
“Scarf and full-sleeve kurta are the minimum part of Islamic Hijab. For hijab you should be very particular about what you wear – the point is you should not show up,” said Fatima, a candidate, talking to IndiaTomorrow.net.
The barred items also include mobile phones, bluetooth, earphones, hair band, belts, cap and scarp.
However, Muslim community had objected to the dress code saying, barring head scarves and full-sleeve kurta would affect several Muslim female students who wear a hijab.
The Kerala High Court had on Tuesday granted conditional permission to two Muslim girls to appear for the test wearing hijab, a customary religious dress but said that the students shall appear before women invigilators half-an-hour before the examination.
In its statement, the CBSE said the dress code mentioned in its notification is advisory as it may delay entry in examination centres and cause inconvenience to the candidates during frisking by metal detectors.
The decision to re-conduct the AIPMT came after the Supreme Court directed it re-conduct of the test following allegations of large-scale irregularities in the examination held on May 3.
Nearly 6.3 lakh candidates had registered for AIPMT, 2015.
