A committee formed to investigate the incident where students appearing for the Common Entrance Test (CET) were forced to remove their janivara (sacred thread) has concluded that the act by the college staff was intentional. The panel, appointed by Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner Jagadeesha G, has also recommended that the college be barred from serving as an exam centre in the future.
Committee Findings
Addressing the media on Monday, Deputy Commissioner Jagadeesha G stated: "We constituted a committee headed by senior officers. During the inquiry, prima facie it was found that the act by the college staff was intentional. The staff had been given training on the dress code. KEA had also appointed a separate dress code officer. Despite that, the college staff forced the students to remove their sacred thread. There were over 700 other centres. Such an incident was not reported from anywhere else."
The committee verified CCTV footage, held discussions with the college principal, and spoke to students, parents, and examination observers. The report has recommended that the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) not consider the college as a centre for any future exams.
Recommended Actions
The committee also recommended stringent action against the staff involved in the incident. "The college has already suspended the staff, an FIR has been filed, and a police investigation is ongoing. Along with that, we are recommending stringent action against the staff," the DC added.
The incident occurred on the first day of the CET, Thursday, at Krupanidhi PU College on Sarajapura Main Road, Koramangala. At least three students were allegedly stopped during frisking and asked to remove the sacred thread. They wrote the exam after removing it.
Legal Proceedings
Following complaints filed by the parents, three individuals—faculty member Sudeheer D, second division clerk A Sarita, and attender Girija of Krupanidhi College—were arrested under Sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 302 (uttering words or gestures with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code.
The CET, conducted by KEA for admission to engineering and various other professional courses, was taken by 3.3 lakh students at 745 centres across the state.
