Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 18: Karnataka's education system has come under fire after a student was allegedly barred from taking the Common Entrance Test (CET) for refusing to remove his sacred thread (Janivara), sparking public outrage and forcing the state government to respond with an apology and assurance of corrective action.

The controversy erupted after Suchivruth Kulkarni, a student from Bidar, claimed he was denied entry to the Mathematics paper of the CET on April 17 at Sai Spoorthi College, despite having appeared for two other exams. The reason? His refusal to remove the sacred thread worn around his torso, a symbol of religious identity.

Minister for school education and literacy Madhu Bangarappa also responded to the reports. “No one has the right to issue such instructions. There is no legal provision that supports this kind of directive. Though this matter does not directly come under my department, since the incident occurred in my home district, I will speak to the concerned officials and take it up seriously,” he said.

Brahmin community organisations, including the Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Maha Sabha and the Vishwa Sanghatane, have condemned the move and demanded action against those responsible for what they described as a violation of religious freedom.

Suchivruth, speaking to the media, recalled the shocking conversation with the exam staff: "When I asked why I wasn't being allowed, one of them casually said, ‘What if you commit suicide using the sacred thread inside the hall?’ I was devastated. I have lost a whole year of my life. My family and I are deeply hurt. We want justice."

In another disturbing case, a student from Shivamogga alleged that officials forcibly cut off his sacred thread before permitting him to sit for the exam, causing him significant mental trauma.

As outrage spread across the state, the Congress-led Karnataka government moved quickly to contain the fallout. Higher education minister M C Sudhakar condemned the incident, stating that there is no rule requiring students to remove sacred threads to attend exams. “If officials truly forced the removal of sacred threads, strict action will follow. Such directives were never issued by the government, and if someone acted on their own, they will be held accountable,” he said.

Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) executive director H Prasanna also issued an apology. "As an organisation, KEA does not support or mandate the removal of sacred threads. This was an error by the exam staff, and I sincerely apologise. We will ensure such incidents are never repeated," he said.

Prasanna further clarified that no discriminatory guidelines will be framed and confirmed that students like Suchivruth, who missed one paper, could still be considered for ranking in engineering courses. “The Deputy Commissioner of Bidar has been directed to submit a detailed report, and we will ensure fair treatment. A similar inquiry has been ordered in Shivamogga,” he added.

In response to protests by Brahmin organisations, which labelled the act as a violation of religious rights, the minister said their concerns were justified. “No student should be made to choose between their faith and their education,” he remarked, urging students to come forward with the names of officials and centres involved.

Hindu groups have expressed their anger, calling for public demonstrations and demanding accountability from the authorities.

As investigations continue, the government has promised to issue clear and respectful guidelines for future examinations, along with training for staff to avoid hurting religious sentiments.

The controversy comes in the backdrop of the state’s previous hijab row, which led to a major political and legal debate. The BJP-led government at the time had banned religious attire like the hijab in classrooms and exam centres, a move upheld by the Karnataka High Court and currently under review by the Supreme Court.