The Karnataka High Court on Saturday, April 26, issued notices to the state government and the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) over a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha. The PIL alleges that students appearing for the Common Entrance Test (CET) were forced to remove their ‘janivara’ (sacred thread) before entering exam centres.
A bench of Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind observed that the allegations must be substantiated with details of the affected students. The court stressed that records identifying the students must be submitted for the case to proceed effectively. The next hearing is scheduled for June 9.
The PIL pertains to incidents during the CET Mathematics paper held on April 17. It claims that several students, particularly in Bidar, Shivamogga, and Dharwad districts, were barred from writing the exam after refusing to remove the sacred thread, a symbol of their religious and cultural practice.
Senior advocate S Sriranga, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the denial of entry violated the students' fundamental rights to education and religious freedom. “Students were deprived of their right to education and religious freedom,” Sriranga told the court.
One student, Suchivrat Kulkarni from Bidar, was reportedly denied entry after refusing to remove his janivara. Following the incident, the state government intervened, offering the student two options: to retake the Mathematics paper or to accept an average score based on his Physics and Chemistry marks.
Higher Education Minister MC Sudhakar said the expert committee had recommended the averaging method, but to avoid controversy, both options were provided.
Meanwhile, Forest Minister and Bidar district in-charge minister Eshwar Khandre offered Suchivrat a free engineering seat in a college run by his family trust, provided the student secures a valid KCET rank — which requires a score in the Mathematics paper.
Opposition Leader R Ashoka also filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), accusing the government of "unlawful and discriminatory" action. Ashoka alleged that Hindu students were denied entry for wearing sacred threads, while Muslim girls wearing hijab were permitted to take the exam, and urged the NHRC to take swift action.
In response, the Congress-led state government issued an apology and suspended staff involved in the incident, including the principal of a pre-university college.