Instruct staff properly: Karnataka HC after students forced to remove sacred thread at CET exam centres

The Karnataka government on Wednesday told the High Court that it has initiated a probe into the incident in which certain student-candidates were asked to remove their sacred religious thread before entering the examination centres for the Common Entrance Test (CET) held on April 23 and 24 [Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Maha Sabha v State of Karnataka & Ors.].

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha observed that proper instructions should have been given to the staff posted at the examinations centres.

The Court nevertheless did not pass any order and deferred the hearing in the case.

The petition before the Court was filed by Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha seeking directions to prevent such occurrences.

Senior Advocate S Sriranga, representing the Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha, submitted that similar incidents had occurred in multiple centres last year too.

He further asked the Court to pass directions to prevent such incidents from occurring in upcoming examinations.

With NEET 2026 scheduled to be held on May 3, the petitioner sought interim directions stating that prior assurance from the State had not been complied with.

Advocate NK Ramesh, appearing for the Karnataka Examinations Authority, submitted that in over 700 CET exam centres, only two centres had reported such incidents. He further submitted that instructions had been issued along with training sessions for the staff.

He further added that an inquiry has been ordered into the incidents at the two centres and reports are awaited from Deputy Commissioners.

Additional Government Advocate Niloufer Akbar submitted that none of the affected students had approached the Mahasabha with any grievance.

The Court eventually deferred the hearing.