Hijab Controversy Strikes Again: Female Candidate Denied Entry at Kota Teacher Recruitment Exam

Kota, Rajasthan: A fresh controversy erupted in Kota during the Level-2 Teacher Recruitment Examination when a female candidate was reportedly denied entry to the exam center for wearing a hijab. The incident has sparked debates about dress codes and religious rights in educational and recruitment settings.

The examination, conducted by the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board, was held in two sessions on Sunday. The incident occurred at the Tilak School exam center in Mahaveer Nagar during the second session. According to reports, the candidate, Alisha, arrived in a salwar-kameez with a hijab, but the center superintendent cited the dress code and prevented her from entering.

Family Claims Dress Code Permitted Hijab
Alisha’s father, Barkatullah, stated that they reached the center well before 1 PM. He emphasized that the official dress code allows salwar-kameez, dupatta, and saree, and that Alisha had appeared in the same attire during her pre-exam. Even her admit card photo shows her wearing a hijab, and she was not wearing a burqa, only a dupatta covering her face.

The family alleged that Alisha had been preparing for this exam for over a year, and being denied entry caused her hard work to go in vain. A video circulating on social media shows Alisha claiming that she was barred solely because she was wearing a hijab.

Strict Security Measures in Place
The exam was conducted under tight security. Candidates were allowed entry between 1 PM and 2 PM, with gates closed an hour before the start. Metal detectors were used, and all outerwear with metal buttons, jackets, and shoes were removed for thorough screening.

The first session, from 10 AM to 12:30 PM, saw 93.32% attendance, while the second session, from 3 PM to 5:30 PM, recorded 90.03% attendance, with 14,820 out of 16,462 candidates appearing.

Hijab Controversy in Rajasthan: A Recurring Issue
This is not the first hijab-related controversy in the state. In August last year, a video from Tonk district’s Janana Hospital went viral, showing a dispute between a female intern doctor and her senior over wearing a hijab during duty. The incident had also sparked a political debate, highlighting ongoing tensions regarding dress codes and religious expression in public institutions.