Several students from Jammu and Kashmir, studying at a nursing college in Karnataka, said they were asked by the college management to shave or trim their beards in order to attend classes.
Students enrolled at the Government Nursing College in Hassan district say they are facing threats of being marked as absent from clinical duties unless they comply with the order.
According to students, about 24 Kashmiri students were informed that they need to trim their beards to ’01’ trimmer or shave to participate in college activities and clinical activities. Students reported that those who kept beards were marked absent during clinical sessions, which negatively affected their attendance and academic records.
The matter was later resolved after the Jammu and Kashmir Student’s Association wrote to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, requesting his intervention.
In its letter, the student body called the college’s guidelines “violating” students’ cultural and religious rights.
“College authorities were reportedly forcing these Kashmiri students to trim their beards to ’01’ length or shave before they were allowed to participate in college activities or enter the premises, especially for clinical activities. In addition, students with beards were marked absent during clinical activities, which affected their academic records and school attendance,” read the letter addressed to Siddaramaiah.
However, the college authorities refused to identify any particular group. The college’s clinical inspector, Vijayakumar, explained that guidelines have been issued to all students, including local Kannadiga students, to maintain the hygiene standards that are important in clinical practice.
“Even after the instructions from the college, the students did not follow them while studying nursing. In this case, a strong warning has been issued,” said the statement of the college management.
The college management also accused the Kashmiri students of regularly skipping classes to attend religious prayers. After a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the college management held a meeting with the Kashmiri students and agreed to allow them to maintain their religious traditions without consequences.
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