NEET dress code row: NHRC issues notice to CBSE chairman

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notice to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) chairman in connection with the alleged harassment of students during the National Eligibility Entrance Test on May 7 in Kannur, Kerala. The NHRC issued a notice asking to submit a detailed report on this matter.

The NHRC issued a notice against a complaint filed by Joseph M Puthusserry, ex-MLA and state general Secretary, Kerala Congress (M) who demanded the Commission’s intervention, saying the incident was a gross violation of human rights and privacy of the candidates.

In the complaint, it was stated in order to adhere to the rigorous CBSE guidelines the students were humiliated at the examination center. The CBSE had suspended four teachers for violating rights as female candidates appearing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test center in north Kerala’s Kannur district were asked to strip off inner wear to abide by the dress code.

The CBSE has since issued a statement regretting the incident and has suspended the the four teachers involved in the incident for one month. The harrowing experience came as the metal detector went off when the candidate was entering the center due to the steel buckles of the inner wear.

The move was a part of making sure that cheating and irregularities decreased. Physical frisking, strict dress codes are all part of the stringent measures.

But it’s not just the female students who suffered such humiliation.

Many male and female students reported alike that their sleeves were cut since long sleeves were not allowed. Some students reported that their parents had to go and buy clothes which suited the invigilators’ rules. Many students were also asked to dump their shoes.

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