Kerala HC allows two Muslim girls to wear hijab during AIPMT test, but they'll be frisked

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday allowed two Muslim girls to wear full-sleeved dresses and head scarves for the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) to be held on 25 July, but on the condition that the invigilators can frisk them in case of any suspicion, reported  Times of India. [caption id=“attachment_2356440” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational Image. AFP[/caption] The court also instructed that the two students should be present at the examination centre half an hour before so that the woman invigilator can conduct a thorough check. The exemption applies to only the two girls-Asiya Abdul Kareem and Nadha Rahim. They had moved the court saying that they won’t be able to attend the examination due to the new dress code, added Hindustan Times. The court’s decision comes after CBSE’s recent rule barring headscarves from the AIPMT , which was reported to have affected several Muslim female students who wear a hijab and feel that it is culturally unacceptable to go out in public in a different attire. According to an Indian Express report, the court had also added that if a particular piece of clothing is mandated by a religion, it cannot be insisted that it be avoided, saying that it was incorrect for any authority to deny anyone the right to their religious attire. The CBSE's dress code instructed students to come in light clothes without big buttons and in open slippers only as it has barred rings, bracelet, earrings, nose pins, pendants and even watches at the examination centres. The objective of the new regulation was to prevent candidates from hiding devices like phones or written notes in their clothing. They had however maintained that the dress code was not intended to hurt any religious sentiments. With inputs from agencies