Sikhs can wear kara, kirpan during NEET, says Delhi HC

: The Delhi high court on Thursday ruled that Sikh candidates should be allowed to wear or carry ‘kara’ (iron bracelet) and ‘kirpan’ (dagger) — considered articles of faith in Sikhism — while appearing for the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET UG), 2018.

However, the court has put a condition that the Sikh candidates will have to report at least an hour prior to the normal reporting time for screening.

The test will be held on May 6 in various cities across the country.

SGPC SEEKS MHRD’S ASSURANCE

Earlier, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Thursday wrote a letter to the Union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) seeking its assurance to allow the baptised Sikh students to appear in the NEET exam with kara and kirpan.

In a letter to the HRD minister Prakash Javedekar, SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal urged the former to issue instructions in this regard as he has been receiving complaints from some Sikh students that they are not being allowed to sit in the exam with their five articles of faith.

He said kara and kirpan are the symbols of Sikhism.

“Sikhs can’t take off these two articles of faith as it hurts their religious sentiments and, therefore, an immediate order should be issued to ensure that the Sikh students are not harassed during the exam”, he said.