The principal and a staff member of Sai Spoorti PU College in Bidar, Karnataka, were suspended following allegations that a student was asked to remove his ‘sacred’ thread before entering the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) exam hall. The incident came to light after Suchivrat Kulkarni, a CET aspirant, claimed he was barred from writing the Mathematics paper on April 17 after being asked to remove the thread worn by Brahmins, a privileged caste group, as part of their religious practice.
According to reports, the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) and the Higher Education Department took action after an interim report by Bidar Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Sharma cited procedural lapses and inappropriate behavior by the college staff. Based on her findings and the subsequent recommendations from the Assistant Commissioner and the Deputy Director of Pre-University Education, the college dismissed Principal Chandrashekar Biradar and Second Division Clerk Satish Pawar. The report stated that the staff had violated KEA protocols, which allow non-metallic sacred threads during examination, and also noted inconsistencies in enforcement. Suchivrat had been permitted to wear the thread while writing the Physics and Chemistry papers at the same centre on April 16.
While the Principal Secretary of Higher Education had called for suspension and disciplinary action, the college opted to terminate the employment of both individuals involved. The KEA and the district administration have also been instructed to implement remedial measures to ensure that no student is denied access due to religious attire, so long as it adheres to examination norms.
In a related incident in Shivamogga, two students were reportedly asked to remove their threads at Adichunchanagiri PU College, another CET examination centre. One student objected and was allowed to write the exam after the principal intervened. The other student complied with the security staff’s instructions and removed the thread. Following a complaint by Natraj Bhagavath of the Karnataka Brahmin Sabha, two home guards were suspended. Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegde acknowledged the lapses after reviewing CCTV footage and stated that the actions stemmed from a lack of awareness.
Police in both cases have registered FIRs under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions related to religious hurt, criminal intimidation, and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.