Student alleges religious discrimination, varsity denies

AGRA: An LLM aspirant on Friday alleged that he was denied an admit card for the entrance test of the post graduate course by Aligarh Muslim University officials on the basis of religious discrimination.

While the student, Satyaveer Singh, claimed that he was not given an admit card because of the ‘kalawa’ (a religious thread worn on the wrist), AMU officials denied his allegations as baseless. According to the university, the concerned candidate, along with 15 more candidates, was declared ineligible as they did not fulfil the eligibility criteria of 55 percent in the qualifying examination.

“The candidate has obtained 51.64 percent in LLB examination of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra. Fifteen more candidates were declared ineligible for appearing in the entrance test. The list of these candidates was uploaded on the website of the department of law on June 21 stating that they did not have to come to the department for admit card,” stated Prof Javaid Talib, chairperson, department of law, AMU.

However Singh claimed,“I was allowed entry inside the university premises but later denied the opportunity to appear in the entrance exam despite being eligible after an official came and asked me my name,” stated Satyaveer Singh and alleged his ‘kalawa’ (religious thread) was not acceptable to the varsity official. “This may have an adverse effect on my career,” Singh added while talking to the media.