Don't Communalize Exam Hall Rules: The Truth Behind CET Dress Code Row

 

Don't Communalize Exam Hall Rules: The Truth Behind CET Dress Code Row

By ; Jameel Aahmed Milansaar

“We were asked to remove our Janeu before sitting for the CET examination,” recounted a student who appeared for the Common Entrance Test here. This simple statement has ignited a firestorm on social media, with viral X posts twisting it into a narrative of bias: "Boys weren’t allowed to wear Janeu (holy thread) while writing CET exams, but burqa is allowed! This is our Karnataka government!!"

Such claims are not just misleading—they're deliberate distortions designed to stoke communal fires. Karnataka's exam halls, from CET to board exams, enforce a uniform dress code to curb malpractice: no head coverings (including burqas or hijabs), no full sleeves, no religious symbols. Every student undergoes frisking and must remove these items before entry. Official guidelines from the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) and Department of Pre-University Education are clear and apply equally—no exceptions for any faith.

Yes, Janeu enforcement has been spotty. Recent CET 2026 incidents, where students were asked to tuck away or remove the sacred thread, have sparked valid questions about consistency. But portraying this as "anti-Hindu" favoritism toward Muslims ignores reality: burqas are strictly banned, just as janeus are scrutinized. In 2022's hijab controversy, courts upheld these rules, affirming that exam integrity trumps religious expression in controlled spaces.

This isn't about faith—it's about fairness. Social media warriors cherry-pick facts to divide us, turning a procedural hiccup into a Hindu-Muslim binary. Karnataka's diverse students—Hindus, Muslims, Christians, others—navigate the same rules daily. Communalizing them erodes trust in institutions and distracts from real issues like exam leaks or seat quotas.

As a secular society, we must demand uniform enforcement, not selective outrage. Let's call out misinformation, support clear policies, and reject those who profit from polarization. Facts unite; fiction fractures.

He is Bengaluru South MP,
@Tejasvi_Surya . As soon as he came to know about the incident where a student was asked to remove janivara, he rushed to the exam centre. He appears very eager to highlight this issue, FYI info guys: the government and the concerned ministry have clearly stated that there is no requirement to remove janivara, and no one should be forced to do so. They have also assured that strict action will be taken if such incidents occur—and today, immediate action has already been taken. Have you seen him respond with the same urgency to other genuine issues?