Religious Symbols Banned in Karnataka Railway Exam Sparks Controversy
Religious Symbols Stir Controversy in Karnataka Railway Exam
A new controversy has erupted in Karnataka over the Railway Department’s Nursing Superintendent entrance exam scheduled for April 28th to 30th. Admit cards issued to candidates sparked outrage after they included instructions to remove religious symbols, such as mangalsutras (sacred marriage chains) and janivaras (sacred threads), before entering the exam hall.
According to the admit card, candidates are prohibited from wearing any ornaments, including earrings, nose pins, rings, bracelets, and religious threads, during the computer-based test. This comes just weeks after similar complaints arose during Karnataka’s Common Entrance Test (CET), where Hindu students were asked to remove their sacred threads, raising concerns about the treatment of religious symbols in public examinations.
Security Measures or Religious Inflexibility?
The guidelines, aimed at ensuring security and preventing malpractice, also ban mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, cameras, watches, belts, handbags, wallets, and electronic gadgets inside the examination hall.
However, the instruction regarding religious symbols has drawn sharp criticism from Hindu organizations, who argue that it infringes upon religious freedoms. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the order, stating that it will hurt the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus.
On social media, users like Sharan Kumar Pumpwell voiced their opposition, calling the move “an anti-religious stance.” They have appealed to authorities, including the District Collector and local MPs, to intervene and ensure that Hindu candidates are allowed to write the exam without compromising their religious practices.
Meanwhile, the restrictions appear to align with standard procedures for competitive exams. The admit card states that candidates must undergo Aadhaar-linked biometric verification and any items that could conceal identity or facilitate unfair means are prohibited. Strict enforcement of biometric registration, frisking, and document verification is also mentioned.
Candidates have been reminded to arrive well in advance to complete verification formalities, with a warning that failure to comply could result in disqualification. However, Hindu groups maintain that items like the janivara and mangalsutra are integral to personal faith and identity, and banning them during exams amounts to a violation of religious rights.
