All-India medical entrance dress code violates religious freedom: Petition in HC

All-India medical entrance dress code violates religious freedom: Petition in HC

TIMES OF INDIA

HI: The dress code stipulated for All-India medical entrance that asks women candidates to wear half-sleeve dress violates the constitutional right to practise one's religion, a 20-year-old Muslim woman has alleged at the Kerala High Court.

A petition filed to the high court by Amna Bint Basheer of Pavaratti in Thrissur said the dress code mentioned in the information bulletin given to candidates who have applied for the All India Pre-Medical Entrance Test (AIPMT) 2016 infringes on her religious beliefs and practices. This year's AIPMT is scheduled for May 1 stat present.

In the bulletin, it is stated that women candidates should wear light clothes with half sleeves. She is a practising Muslim woman and wearing a half-sleeve dress as mentioned in the bulletin will be against Quranic instructions. As per Quran, she is required to cover all her body except face when she is appearing in public or is with non-relatives, the petition filed through advocate Shameem Ahamed said.

The dress code specified for AIPMT has no nexus with the objectives sought to be achieved and it is unconstitutional as it violates the fundamental right of the petitioner to practise her religion as per Article 25 (1) of the Constitution. The only exception is the authorization for the State to make law for regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political, or other secular activity which may be associated with religious practice, the petition stated.

The condition imposed on the petitioner and other similarly-placed candidates is a clear infringement of their fundamental right and is against the Supreme Court's 1986 decision in Bijoe Emmanuel vs State of Kerala case, it is alleged.

Further, the petitioner points out that a similar challenge was raised by candidates who appeared for last year's AIPMT and the high court had issued orders in their favour. Even after the high court issued orders, authorities prevented Muslim and Christian candidates from appearing for the examination citing dress code, the petitioner contends citing media reports. In such circumstances, the petitioner is constrained to approach the high court, the petition said.