Karnataka News: A student in Karnataka was stopped from appearing for the KCET examination after he refused to remove his janeu, a sacred thread worn by many Hindu men. The incident occurred at Sai Spoorthi PU College in Bidar on April 17, when Suchivrat Kulkarni arrived at the centre to write his exam.

Following the incident, the college management took action by dismissing principal Chandrashekara Biradara and second division clerk Satish Pawar. Their termination was ordered by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) and the higher education department after an interim report by Bidar Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Sharma. The report mentioned that the officials neglected KEA guidelines, which permit non-metallic sacred threads during the KCET examination. It also noted that staff made derogatory comments towards Kulkarni.

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According to an Indian Express report, Kulkarni had already taken physics and chemistry tests at the same centre while wearing the sacred thread a day earlier, raising questions about the enforcement of rules. The deputy commissioner’s report recommended disciplinary measures against the dismissed officials and suggested remedial actions for Kulkarni.

The student recounted that he was told he could not take the exam unless he removed the sacred thread, which he refused to do, asserting it was a significant religious symbol. Consequently, he was barred from sitting for the exam.

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Kulkarni's mother, Neeta Kulkarni, expressed her outrage over the incident, stating that her son was unfairly excluded from the examination due to his religious beliefs. She called for the government to either arrange a re-examination for her son or ensure his admission to a reputable college with tuition fees covered by the government or the college.

According to a report by Times of India, despite the incident, Kulkarni was later allowed to sit for the biology paper during the afternoon session on April 17.