The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea of an Islamic organisation that Muslim girl applicants be allowed to wear ‘hijab’ (scarf) in the All-India Pre-Medical Entrance Test (AIMPT). The test will be held on Saturday.
“Faith is something different from wearing some kind of cloth,” a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu said, adding that the AIPMT was being held again at its direction and some “reasonable restrictions” were needed.
Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for Student Islamic Organisation of India, which filed the PIL, said the directions of CBSE’s dress code that have been made mandatory for entry in exam halls, were acceptable except the order that girls can’t wear head scarf. “Wearing <g data-gr-id="22">head scarf</g> is an essential religious practise. Girls will be forced to skip the examination,” he said.
“Oh, come on! please,” the Bench, also comprising Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy, said. This court had to set aside the exam during the vacation as there were allegations of large-scale irregularities and the CBSE has issued directions to ensure that now it is fair, it said. “We will not interfere with this kind of small issue,” the Bench said.