PANJIM: Safina Khan Soudagar, a 24-year-old student who was denied to answer her National Eligibility Test (NET) for wearing Hijab (scarf) , has approached the Human Rights Commission and Women’s Rights Commission seeking justice.
“Articles 25-28 provide that I have freedom to practise my religion. Therefore, such behaviour is unacceptable in a secular state and is a matter of harassment. There are no rules specified on National Eligibility Test website or elsewhere related to restrictions on the Hijab or a particular dress code. If there were changes made to the rules, candidates should have been informed prior to the examination,” she said in the petition to the two Commissions.
The student mentioned that her photo attached with her online application was also with a Hijab which was accepted and she was not informed anything about not wearing the scarf for the examination.
The student was not allowed to answer the exams held by University Grants Commission on December 18.
