More than 2.2 million candidates appeared in the NEET UG re-examination held on Sunday. There have been serious allegations that a burqa-wearing student was barred from entering an examination center in Rajasthan’s Ajmer.
The victim told reporters that she was not allowed to enter the center because she was wearing a burqa. He said that he took the first exam last May 3 in the same dress and there was no obstacle.
As per National Testing Agency (NTA) rules, candidates can come to the test center wearing religious dress or symbols, but they have to reach the center well before the scheduled time to facilitate the search process.
The student, Kulsoom Bano, alleged that the security personnel at the examination center first asked her to remove her veil and then forced her to remove it. The student questioned why he was banned from wearing religious dress if the NTA rules allowed him to wear it. She also made it clear that her veil is more important to her than the exam and she does not want to take the exam undressed.
The student’s father said his daughter took the exam wearing a burqa on May 3 and the rules allowed her to wear religious clothes. They requested security personnel to conduct a thorough search of the student by a female staff member and allow her to remove her burqa in a secret location, but authorities refused. However, amid the controversy, the National Testing Agency said the student was eventually allowed to enter the center and take the test.
Ajmer North Zone Circle Officer Shivam Joshi told reporters that confusion had arisen due to some ambiguity in the rules, but the issue has been resolved after senior officials clarified the matter. He said, except for this incident, all the students entered the examination center peacefully.
The NTA on Sunday beefed up security after the NEET exam was canceled following the question paper leak.