Janivara and Shivadara row: Karnataka Higher Education Minister says strict action will be taken if allegations are true

Karnataka Higher Education Minister vows strict action against officials accused of forcing students to remove religious threads during exams.

Higher Education Minister M. C. Sudhakar on Friday (April 18, 2025) said that strict action will be taken against the officials who are alleged to have forced students in Bidar and Shivamogga who were writing their Common Entrance Test (CET) to remove their ‘Shivadara’ and ‘Janivara’ (consecrated threads worn by members of certain communities) if the incidents are proven to be true.

A student from Bidar has alleged that on Thursday (April 17, 2025), he was not allowed to take his mathematics exam as he refused to take off his Shivadara as per the instructions of the officials at the examination centre. He said that while he was allowed to write the physics and chemistry papers on April 16 and even the biology paper on April 17 while wearing the Shivadara, he was not allowed to write his mathematics paper, thereby crushing his dreams of pursuing engineering.

Meanwhile, in Shivamogga, another student has alleged that his Janivara was cut off by the examination centre officials after he refused to take it off on Wednesday (April 16, 2025). The members of Karnataka Brahmanara Mahasabha and other Brahmin outfits have expressed their anger over the alleged incident by lodging a complaint with the District Commissioner (DC).

Speaking to reporters about the incidents, Mr. Sudhakar said, “I was not aware of these developments until this morning when MLA Byrathi Suresh called and asked me about it. The executive director (ED) of Karnataka Examinations Authority (who conducts CET) had told me that the exams went off smoothly. When I found out about these allegations, even I was shocked. If something like this has really occurred, then I condemn it. I have asked the ED for a complete report and he informed that the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Shivamogga has denied the allegations.”

He added, “As these incidents have occurred only in two centres and not anywhere else in the State, we can conclude that this is not in the KEA’s protocol. Even though I cannot draw a conclusion until I get the full report, anyone who might have done such acts should have had a wicked mindset. We respect the customs and practices of all castes and religions and we never encourage such behaviour.” He also said that strict legal action would be taken against those who are involved in the alleged incidents if the report confirms it.

The Minister also said that a solution will be devised for the student from Bidar who could not write his mathematics exam if the allegations are proven true. “We are aware that his future is dependent on this and after I get a report, I will discuss this with officials and make a plan for him. We have never given retests to an individual student before,” Mr. Sudhakar said.

Minister of School Education and district in-charge Minister of Shivamogga, Madhu Banagarappa directed the DC to immediately suspend the officials who are allegedly responsible for cutting off the Janivara of the CET candidate.