Muslim girl students in hijab will be allowed write AIIMS exam

Students will have to report an hour before the examination to undergo a mandatory physical check The instruction, prohibiting students from wearing hijab, was printed on the AIIMS test's admit cards Petitioners said prohibiting hijab for the entrance was unconstitutional and violated religious freedom

Muslim girl students wearing 'hijab' will be allowed to write the AIIMS' entrance test for MBBS on May 28, as long as they undergo mandatory checks. 

The Centre informed a decision in this regard to the Kerala High Court on Wednesday. However, the counsel for the Union government and the AIIMS told the bench that the girl students wearing 'hijab', a customary religious dress, will have to report an hour before the beginning of the examination to undergo the mandatory physical checks in time.

The submission was made to a bench, headed by Justice PB Suresh Kumar, during the hearing of a plea by Muslim girl students and various Islamic organisations, challenging an AIIMS regulation which allegedly prohibited the students from wearing hijab. 

The petitioners alleged this instruction, prohibiting students from wearing the headgear and scarves, was printed on the admit cards for the AIIMS' MBBS test. They said prohibiting hijab for candidates appearing for the entrance was unconstitutional and violative of their right to religious freedom guaranteed by Article 25. 

The court had earlier sought the Centre's stand on the pleas by the Muslim girl students and organisations. But with the Counsel for the Centre and AIIMS, clarifying its stand, Justice recorded his submission and disposed of the petition.

(with PTI inputs)