Karnataka bans all forms of head covering during recruitment exams in response to malpractice

The KEA announcement came ahead of several board and business meetings to be held across the state on November 18 and 19.

Bangalore: The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) on Tuesday banned all forms of head coverings in board and corporate recruitment exams in response to malpractice. However, the examination body allowed mangalsutras (bead necklaces worn by married Hindu women) and toe rings after protests from right-wing organizations.

Although the examination body’s dress code does not explicitly mention the hijab in the list of prohibited items, the rules against head coverings will exclude it during the recruitment exams.

The KEA announcement came ahead of several board and business meetings held across the state on November 18 and 19.

In a statement, the KEA said wearing “any garment or cap that covers the head, mouth or ears” is not permitted in the examination hall. The order further stated that this is part of the effort to stop malpractice in examinations using Bluetooth devices. Notably, the KEA had allowed headscarves during the recruitment exams held in October.

However, the new guidelines do not ban the hijab but it concludes that head coverings associated with different faiths such as Islam and Sikhism will not be allowed in the examination hall, to prevent malpractice using Bluetooth devices .

In addition, the examination authority also banned electronic gadgets such as phones and Bluetooth earphones in the examination center.

During the Karnataka Public Service Commission exam on November 6, a woman candidate appearing for the exam was asked to remove her ‘mangalsutra’ before entering the exam hall.

However, the incident sparked outrage among Hindutva groups following which KEA allowed women to wear mangalasutra and toe rings in the exam hall but restricted other jewelry.