Suspension of Principal and Staff Over Sacred Thread Incident in Karnataka

Bengaluru, April 20 (NationPress) The Principal and staff members of Sai Spoorthi Pre-University College located in Karnataka's Bidar district have been suspended following an investigation by the police that revealed students were prohibited from participating in the Common Entrance Test (CET) due to their wearing of the sacred thread (janivara/janeu), thereby breaching established regulations.

Chandrashekhar Biradar, the Principal of Sai Spoorthi Pre-University College, along with the college's invigilator Satish Pawar, have been suspended based on directives from the Higher Education Department Secretary, K. G. Jagadeesha.

This action was executed promptly after Bidar Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Sharma presented her findings.

Since Sai Spoorthi Pre-University College is a private institution operating under the Department of School Education (Pre-University), orders were issued to the college management to suspend Principal Biradar and invigilator Pawar from their positions and to initiate disciplinary measures against them.

Sharma's comprehensive report to the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) indicated that the incident transpired due to the negligence of Muddassir, an official from Aurad, who served as the exam invigilator.

Despite the candidate's wait for entry into the exam hall, permission was ultimately denied, according to Sharma.

The Deputy Commissioner noted in her report that Muddassir had breached KEA regulations and exhibited a lapse in duty.

The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also filed a suo motu complaint regarding this matter.

Additionally, a police report has been lodged against an officer affiliated with the Education Department for allegedly refusing entry to students adorned with the sacred thread during the CET in Karnataka's Shivamogga district.

Suchivrat Kulkarni, a student who faced denial to sit for the CET exam, recounted to the media that he was obstructed. He stated that a staff member made an alarming remark, questioning the implications if someone were to commit suicide using the sacred thread inside the examination venue.

"When I challenged the staff regarding the refusal to grant entry, they responded with dismissive and insensitive remarks. I was permitted to sit for two exams, but denied access for the Mathematics paper. They insisted I remove the sacred thread before entering the examination hall," he explained.

"When I declined to do so, they warned that I would not be allowed inside. They posed the question, 'What if you commit suicide inside?'

"This incident has cost me a valuable year of my life and has inflicted tremendous distress on me and my family. We are seeking justice," lamented Sachivrat.

In a related incident, another student from Shivamogga reported that officials at his exam center forcibly cut his sacred thread prior to permitting him to take the exam, claiming this experience led to significant mental trauma.