Harshita Sharma
Published on: July 14, 2022, 17:44 IST
The Delhi High Court in a matter presented before them held that examination authorites ought to provide advance notice regarding rules concerning the candidates wearing a kara (bangle) or kirpan (dagger) to reach the examination hall at least an hour before the requisite time.
elhi High Court has held as “unsustainable” a Sikh woman candidate being prevented from appearing in a competitive examination till she removed her metallic kara (bangle) despite reaching the examination centre before the closing time in terms of the admit card.
Single Bench Judge Rekha Palli issued directions to the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) and other allied agencies to take appropriate steps well in advance.
An Amritdhari Sikh woman named Manharleen Kaur had filed a case against the DSSB and the examination center which averted her appearing in the PGT-Economics (female) examination because she was wearing a ‘Metallic Kara.’ Additionally, she was forced to cut out her sleeves. The petitioner’s major contention was that there had been no prior information regarding the non-allowance of aspirants to appear for the exam if they are wearing a kara unless they reach the exam an hour before the commencement of the exam.
The court expressed discontent with the inefficiency of specialized bodies like the DSSSB. Even after conducting exams on a regular basis in which a considerable amount of Sikh candidates appear, the authorities are still not sensitized enough to accommodate the students desirous of wearing a kara or kirpan during the exam.
The Court chastised the Board for failing to inform candidates about the requirement to arrive at the examination centre at least one hour before the reporting time and held that the petitioner was wrongfully barred from taking the examination. It went on to say that the respondents’ actions are clearly unsustainable and are likely to be overturned.
Justice Palli asked counsel for the DSSB to obtain information about when a new examination for the post is likely to be held so that the petitioner can reappear for it while denying the petitioner’s prayer to be appointed to a position that had previously been directed to be kept vacant by the authorities.
