the goan I network
PANAJI
Safina Khan Soudagar, the candidate who was not allowed to appear for the National Eligibility Test (NET) on Dec 18, has written to Education Secretary Nila Mohanan, requesting Mohanan to look into the matter and take action. Specifically, Soudagar wishes that no female candidate appearing in the on-going exams which conclude on December 23 is debarred from answering the exam based on what they are wearing, as no specific dress-code is mentioned in the rules, says Soudagar.
“I would like to inform you that the photograph attached to my online application was also in a hijab, and if there had been a change in rules, my application should not have been accepted and the reason should have been specified. It has cost me time, effort, (and) money,” states Soudagar in the letter.
Soudagar, a candidate appearing for the national-level exam, which is the eligibility exam to teach in college sections across the country, alleged that she was debarred from answering the exam on Tuesday for “security reasons” as she was wearing a hijab (a scarf that was covering her head, ears and neck, leaving her face visible.) She was addressing a press conference in the city.
When told that her ears had to be visible for a photograph as per NET rules, Soudagar agreed to re-tie her hijab to accommodate this request of the exam officials. For the same, she asked that she be escorted to the ladies’ room. However, she was told to do it in public view, which Soudagar said humiliated her. She was further told that she would have to answer the two and a half hour long exam without her hijab. She also claimed that this was her third attempt answering NET that she has answered the exam twice before, while wearing the hijab.
“Article 14 of the Indian constitution provides that I be treated equally. Article 21 of the Indian constitution provides that I cannot be deprived of my personal liberty. Articles 25-28 provide that I have freedom to practice my religion. Therefore, such behaviour is unacceptable in a secular state and is a matter of harassment,” wrote Soudagar in her letter to the Education Secretary, a copy of which has been sent to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the National Testing Agency (NTA).
