Women constables to identify faces of students in hijabs

Mumbai: Only female constables will be authorised to identify the faces of the female students wearing burqas and hijabs during the upcoming board examinations, which are being conducted by the Maharashtra State Board for Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE). The MSBSHSE issued the notification after receiving several complaints from students of the Muslim community stating that male personnel were asking female students to raise their burqa for the verification process, which is against their religious beliefs.

Last year, there was a ruckus after several students were forced to remove their burqa to show their faces during the exam. “Checking is done in case suspicions arise, and not everyone is subjected to it. Several incidents were reported where students discreetly hid chits or study material under their burqa. Hence, we came up with this notification where the checking will be done by female constables instead of male personnel,” a senior MSBSHSE official told this newspaper.

Along with this, there is another process before the tests begin at the examination hall where the students’ hall ticket photos are verified.  

This verification happens for both Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations. The notice dispels rumours that the board had asked for burqas to be banned during these examinations.

For Rabiya Khan, an HSC student, the move brings relief. “My seniors had told me that checking is a bit uncomfortable when done by a male person. It is a relief that we won’t have to go through such a situation,” said Ms Khan, a student of a Matunga based college.