Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday refused to stay a single bench order directing the Central Board of Secondary Education to allow Muslim girls to appear for the All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Test (AIPMT)-2016 scheduled on May 1, wearing hijab (headscarf) and full-sleeve dress.
The court, however, asked students to reach the examination hall one hour prior to the examinations. A division bench comprising Justice P.N. Ravindran and Justice Sunil Thomas passed the order while disposing of appeal by the CBSE against the order.
The Bench observed that since the CBSE has already issued a notification asking candidates coming in customary religious dresses to report at their respective centres by 8.30, no interference with the single judge’s directive was called for.
The CBSE argued that the single judge’s verdict would entail deployment of more women invigilators. The CBSE found it cumbersome to employ more women invigilators at this belated stage.
