A final-year nursing student in Ahmedabad faced a major hurdle on Tuesday when he was initially prevented from taking his crucial practical examination because he had a beard. The incident, which highlights concerns over religious sensitivity and institutional protocols, occurred at a major municipal hospital in the city.
Exam Hall Confrontation Over Facial Hair
The student, 23-year-old Abu Bakr, is pursuing a General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) diploma at Shama General Nursing School in Danilimda. His final-year practical exam was scheduled at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC)-run SVP Hospital in Paldi. According to Bakr, when he arrived at the examination centre at 10 am on December 24, 2025, female examiners stationed outside the hall stopped him from entering.
They pointed out his beard and declared him ineligible to sit for the test. "They just looked at me and stopped me," Bakr recounted. He explained that his beard was a matter of personal religious observance, but the examiners were not convinced. They insisted he needed prior approval from the Gujarat Nursing Council (GNC) to appear with facial hair.
College Intervention Resolves Impasse
Facing the prospect of missing his exam, Abu Bakr immediately contacted the authorities at his college, which is run by the Gujarat Sarvajanik Welfare Trust. Representatives from the institute reached the hospital within thirty minutes. After discussions with the examination staff, they managed to persuade them to allow Bakr to take his test.
"They only allowed me at 11:30 am after the college authorities intervened," said Bakr, a resident of Godhra who has been studying in Ahmedabad for three years. He expressed his dismay, stating, "We are in the health profession and work hard. We do not want to demean any religion or any sentiments." This was not the first time Bakr encountered such an issue; he faced a similar situation during his second-year exams at Sheth LG General Hospital in Maninagar, which was also resolved after his college stepped in.
Official Clarification and Institutional Response
The incident prompted a clarification from the top regulatory body. Dr. M. M. Prabhakar, President of the Gujarat Nursing Council (GNC), explicitly stated to the media that the council has no rule restricting beards, hijabs, or caps during exams. "There is no such rule or restriction by the Council... We have not issued any circular or order," he affirmed. Dr. Prabhakar added that while he was unaware of these specific incidents, he would look into the matter.
Meanwhile, Afzal Memon, chief functionary of the Gujarat Sarvajanik Welfare Trust, confirmed the college's role in resolving the situation. He noted that while the examination centres are selected by the GNM council, the college has no control over their operations. The trust, which runs several educational and health institutes, became aware of the incident after it unfolded.
The episode raises questions about the implementation of inclusive practices at examination centres and the need for clear communication of guidelines to all staff involved in conducting high-stakes tests for professional courses.
