CBSE relaxes AIPMT dress code

A Muslim girl or a nun can now take the All India Pre Medical and Dental Test wearing their customary and religious dresses.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has relaxed the dress codes for those reaching the examination centres in their religious or customary dresses, with a rider that such candidates will have to arrive by 8.30 am for “proper frisking.”

“Candidates coming in customary or religious dresses should report at the centre latest by 8.30 am for proper frisking,” it said in a notification.

The CBSE issued the notification late on Tuesday after a Congress MP raised the matter in the Lok Sabha earlier in the day.

Hearing a petition on Tuesday, the Kerala High Court also granted permission to Muslim girls to appear in the AIPMT wearing Hijab on the condition that they reach the examination centre half an hour in advance for frisking, if necessary. “The CBSE has banned Hijab, the headscarf, veils and sleeves during the All India Pre-Medical Test.

Last year, a nun was crying and did not write the examination. She went back. Dress code is an identity of a person. So, there should not be a feeling that their religious belief is being intruded upon,” Congress MO M I Shanavas said in Lok Sabha, raising the issue in Zero Hour.

The board is scheduled to hold the AIPMT on May 1. A CBSE official said that a dress code was issued and customary clothes like headscarf and Hijab were put under the list of banned items, just to ensure that a free and fair examination is held.

“There was no intention to hurt religious sentiments of any community by restricting students from reaching examination hall in scarf and other religious dresses. We issued the dress code along with list of banned items because some of the candidates caught for cheating in the test last year using micro bluetooth enabled devises discreetly fitted in their clothes like undergarments. It’s a big menace today,” he added.

The CBSE had to re-conduct the AIPMT last year after the apex court ordered for the hearing on a petition.