Bengaluru: Karnataka high court on Saturday ordered issuance of notice to the state govt in response to a PIL plea filed by the Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha concerning instances where students appearing for CET were forced to remove their Janivara or Janeu (sacred thread).
A division bench comprising Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind also issued notice to the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate S Sriranga submitted that during the mathematics exam conducted on April 17, students were ill-treated at various exam centres in the state and were asked to remove the sacred thread worn as part of religious and cultural practices.

He added that the incidents occurred at multiple centres, particularly in Bidar, Shivamogga, and Dharwad districts. According to him, the actions of the KEA officials violated rights under Articles 21A (right to education), 25 (freedom to practice religion), and 29(2) (admission to educational institutions) of the Constitution. He also informed the court that subsequent to the filing of PIL, on April 21, an FIR was also filed in certain cases.
Explaining that the students who refused to remove their threads weren’t permitted to enter the exam room and attempt the paper, he sought a re-exam for them.
The petitioner organisation has also sought directions to the authorities for framing specific guidelines regarding the conduct of exams and frisking by KEA officials.
The govt advocate submitted the issue is painful for the govt as well and the affected students have been offered seats in govt colleges despite not appearing in said exam. Pointing out that the allegations made in the petition need to be substantiated by the petitioner, including by providing the names of the students affected, the division bench adjourned the case to June 9.