KEA bans hijab; other clothing, items in exam centres

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Examination Authority’s (KEA’s) dress code for recruitment exams of state-run boards and corporations to be conducted on Saturday and Sunday has prohibited candidates from covering their heads, effectively banning the hijab.

The body believes that head coverings allow students to hide bluetooth devices.

However, metal jewelry except ‘mangalsutra’ and toe rings – usually associated with the Hindu women – are allowed. The exceptions come in the backdrop of a November 6 Karnataka Public Services Commission (KPSC) exam wherein some women were asked to take off their ‘mangalsutras’ to outrage and protests.

The revision of rules vis a vis the hijab is a change in position as KEA had allowed head coverings in competitive exams held on October 28 and 29 and on November 6.

The Higher Education minister MC Sudhakar had said there would be no restriction on hijabs since the KEA followed National Eligibility cum Entrance (NEET) guidelines, which didn’t prohibit head coverings.

Prohibited items include all electronic devices, pen drives, earphones, microphones, bluetooth devices, wristwatches, clothes with elaborate embroidery, flowers, buttoned clothing, high heeled shoes, slippers and masks.

Pencil, paper, eraser, geometry boxes and logarithm tables are prohibited as well. Men are barred from wearing full sleeved clothes, jeans pants, ‘Kurta Pajama’, besides restrictions on zip pockets, pockets. Shoes are also disallowed and candidates have been asked to wear sandals.

Bluetooth scare led to stringent rules

The seemingly endless list of banned items comes in the backdrop of one Trimurthy being caught and later arrested for allegedly using a bluetooth device to cheat during recent exams in Kalaburagi.

This arrest had led to the uncovering of a scam involving multiple candidates who were accused of using the same strategy to cheat.

The State government had empowered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the case on November 11.

Head covering prohibition reopens old wounds

Any ban on the head coverings in Karnataka brings back memories of December 2021 when a Government PU College in Kundapura, Udupi district, banned the hijab in classes.

In January 2022, another government PU college in Udupi city followed suit. Several other colleges in the state banned the hijab in the classrooms later.