KEA faces backlash after candidates allege forcible removal of ‘Janivara’ during CET exam; district administration orders inquiry, officials suspended
Chikkaballapura: A major controversy has erupted in Karnataka after several CET candidates alleged that their sacred thread (Janivara) was forcibly cut during the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (CET) examination. The incident, which occurred despite clearly defined dress code guidelines by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), has sparked widespread outrage and prompted an official investigation.
According to the district administration, the matter is being treated seriously, with a special team constituted to probe the allegations. Preliminary action has already been initiated, with some personnel reportedly suspended pending inquiry. Officials indicated that the act appears to have been carried out deliberately, raising concerns about the violation of religious sentiments and exam protocol.
“I said I would remove it myself, but they didn’t allow me. They cut it with scissors and threw it in the trash.”
Supreet further revealed that after the examination, his father searched for the discarded thread in the garbage. The incident, he said, left him emotionally disturbed and unable to concentrate during the exam.
“It is very painful. Because of this, I could not write my exam properly. I want another chance to appear and wear my Janivara.”
He also claimed that there was no prior communication or mention in the CET guidelines prohibiting the wearing of the sacred thread, intensifying the sense of injustice among affected candidates.
The investigation team is expected to submit its report soon, which will determine accountability and further action. Meanwhile, the controversy continues to draw sharp reactions from students, parents, and civil society groups across the state.
