Janivara row: Forest Minister Eshwara Khandre offers free seat to Suchivrat Kulkarni at BKIT

Eshwar B. Khandre offers free engineering seat to student denied entry for wearing sacred thread in CET exam.

In a gesture of support, Eshwar B. Khandre, Minister for Forest, Biology, and Environment and Bidar District in-charge, offered a free engineering seat at Bhimanna Khandre Institute of Technology (BKIT), Bhalki, in Bidar district, for Suchivrat Kulkarni, a student who was denied entry to the examination hall to write the Mathematics paper in the Common Entrance Test (CET) examination as he was wearing Janivara(sacred thread).

The BKIT, one of the major engineering colleges in North Karnataka, is the flagship institution of Shanti Vardhak Education Society, Bhalki, to which Mr. Khandre is the chairman.

The Minister, accompanied by Municipal Administration Minister Rahim Khan, visited Mr. Suchivrat’s residence on Sunday morning (April 20, 2025) to personally offer encouragement and support to the student and his family. He expressed regret over the incident, stating that it was a serious lapse on the part of private college staff and emphasised that such incidents should not be repeated.

“Considering the importance of safeguarding the student’s educational future, which reflects the collective concern of all, I offered Suchivrat a free seat at our engineering college in Bhalki. Discussions are going on with the Higher Education Minister to explore the possibility of arranging a separate ECT exam for Suchivrat. The student can appear for the COMEDK exam as well. Seat can be given to him based on his performance in that exam,” Mr. Khandre said, adding that his government stands firmly with the affected student and his family and is committed to ensuring that Mr. Suchivrat receives all necessary support.

“I had immediately ordered an investigation and directed the district administration to submit a report within 24 hours. The investigation was done, and the report was submitted accordingly. Following the report, action is also taken against those found responsible,” Mr. Khandre told mediapersons after his visit.