Row erupts as CET centres in Karnataka’s Shivamogga, Bidar ‘force students to remove sacred threads’; minister vows action
Organisations, including the All Karnataka Brahmin Mahasabha, have sought a thorough investigation into the incidents and demanded strict action against the officials involved.
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if a candidate fails to provide supporting documents, including valid marksheet at the time of verification; he/she will be barred from the process until the last round of admissions. (Representational Photo)A fresh row has erupted in Karnataka following complaints from students appearing for the Common Entrance Test (CET) that they were forced to remove their janivara (sacred thread) at examination centres in Shivamogga and Bidar.
The incidents, which allegedly occurred during the CET conducted on Wednesday and Thursday, have sparked widespread outrage, particularly among the Brahmin community, who view the action as a grave insult to their religious and cultural practices.
The controversy also indicated a lack of clarity on wearing the janivara or rudraksha under the CET’s prescribed dress code.
State Higher Education Minister Dr M C Sudhakar has vowed strict action against staff of the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) and has sought a detailed report on the incident from its executive director Prasanna H.
At the Adichunchanagiri PU College in Shivamogga, one of the designated CET centres, students and community leaders alleged “unprecedented humiliation.”
According to complaints filed with the local authorities, security personnel, including a home guard, enforced a strict interpretation of the CET dress code, demanding that students remove their janivara, kashidaara (sacred wrist threads), and rudraksha beads before entering the exam hall.
In another incident, one student’s sacred thread was allegedly cut by staff and discarded in a dustbin after the student complied under duress.
Another student, who resisted removing the thread, reportedly faced similar treatment. “The students were already under pressure for this crucial exam. To be forced to remove something so sacred and then see it desecrated was traumatic,” said a parent.
While some students removed their threads without protest and retrieved them after the exam, the incident came to light when one student informed their family, triggering an immediate response from the local Brahmin community.
By the evening of April 16, the issue had gained traction, with community leaders rallying to demand justice.
A parallel incident unfolded at the Sai Spoorthi Examination Centre in Bidar, where a Brahmin student was reportedly barred from writing the Mathematics portion of the CET after refusing to remove his janivara.
According to reports, the student, who had prepared rigorously for the exam to secure an engineering seat, was devastated by the ordeal.
The incidents have sparked criticism from Brahmin organisations across Karnataka. In Shivamogga, the Brahmina Sanghagala Okkuta, led by former MLA K B Prasanna Kumar, lodged a formal complaint with Gurudatta Hegde, Deputy Commissioner, on Thursday, condemning the actions as a “direct attack on Hindu religious practices.”
The complaint highlighted the emotional toll on students, many of whom had recently undergone the Gayatri Diksha, a rite closely tied to the janivara.
“These children were preparing for a life-changing exam, only to be humiliated for their faith,” MLA Kumar told reporters.
The All Karnataka Brahmin Mahasabha echoed these sentiments, demanding a thorough investigation into both incidents and strict action against the officials involved.
In Bidar, community leaders called on the district magistrate to intervene, arguing that the exclusion of a student from the exam violated his fundamental rights. Protests erupted in Shivamogga, with members of the Brahmin community gathering outside the Adichunchanagiri College, holding placards and chanting slogans for justice.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, minister Sudhakar said, “I strongly condemn the act and I deeply respect the beliefs and customs of all communities. I learnt about the incident only later, due to the Cabinet meeting on Thursday. I have sought a detailed report from KEA on the incidents. Appropriate action will be taken against KEA staff if they are found guilty.”
On whether a CET candidate, who allegedly was barred from the examination for wearing the sacred thread, would get an opportunity to reappear, Sudhakar clarified, “We will review and take action as per the report’s findings.”
Brahmin organisations and affected families have demanded a comprehensive investigation into the incidents at Adichunchanagiri PU College and Sai Spoorthi Examination Centre.
They sought disciplinary action against the home guard in Shivamogga and the staff in Bidar, who were allegedly responsible for the incidents, and a formal apology from KEA and the examination centres for the distress caused to students.
The organisations also demanded training for examination staff on cultural and religious sensitivity. “If these demands are not met, we will escalate our protests,” warned a representative of the All Karnataka Brahmin Mahasabha. “This is not just about one exam; it’s about the dignity of our children and our faith.”
The controversy has reignited debates about balancing examination security with respect for religious diversity, a sensitive issue in Karnataka following the 2022 hijab ban in educational institutions. KEA, however, has banned face coverings, masks, and caps for exam candidates.
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