NEET shocker: Four teachers suspended, CBSE terms incident 'unfortunate'

The CBSE has suspended four teachers for violating rights after they allegedly forced female candidates to take off their clothes, including innerwear, as part of a strict dress code at a NEET exam centre in Kannur on Sunday.

In a shocking incident, a girl student was forced to remove her bra before being permitted to enter the test centre at a private school in Koovapuram, while a few others had to change their jeans as they had metal buttons. 

The CBSE, which organised the NEET exam nationwide, has now termed the incident as "unfortunate". After suspending the four women teachers involved pending inquiry, the CBSE has urged the school's principal to tender an unconditional apology to the victim.

"The incident reported at TISK English Medium School, Koovapram, Kannur (Kerala) is very unfortunate and apparently due to consequence of few overzealous female frisking staff of the school. CBSE has advised the school principal to tender and unconditional apology to the candidate. The agony and inconvenience caused to the candidate inadvertently is deeply regretted by CBSE,” the board said in a statement on Tuesday.

There was huge uproar throughout Kerala once the incident came to light. The State Human Rights Commission has filed a suo motu case in connection with the incident, while the Kerala Women's Commission has also called for an inquiry.

The issue echoed in the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday, with the Opposition condemning the incident. Responding to concerns expressed by members of the House on the issue, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said he would bring the matter to the Centre's notice and that the police have been asked to examine the incidents. 

(with agency inputs)

• Kannur
• NEET
• CBSE
• human rights