'We Wrote To NTA & Centre Expressing Our Disapproval...', Kerala Higher Education Minister Bindu On Kollam Incident

National Testing Agency (NTA) denies any such incident reported at the examination centre in Kollam

A day after MarThoma Institute of Information Technology, Ayur in Kollam district asked girls to remove innerwear before entering the NEET examination hall, Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu condemned the act by expressing the government's disapproval of such action.

"We've written to NTA & Centre expressing our disapproval of such action. They should make their instructions precisely to avoid misinterpretation by their officials...We've to ensure that a student's psychological condition isn't hampered," said Higher Education Minister as quoted by news agency ANI.

"It was most unfortunate that those who organised the examination in the state took such an extreme step towards girls. It's nothing but a human rights violation and the state government will protest and seek stern action against those who have done this to the students. Such incidents shouldn't happen in future," Times of India said quoting Minister Bindu.  

Meanwhile, police registered the case under IPC Section 354 and Section 509 after a girl students filed a complaint stating that she was asked to remove innerwear before entering the NEET examination hall in the institute on Monday (July 18).

NTA Claims No Such Incident Reported

NTA denies any such incident reported at the examination centre in Kollam. "Centre Superintendent and Independent Observer as well as City Coordinator, Kollam district have stated that they did not find any such incident happening in the NEET examination centre (Mar Thoma Institute of Information Technology, Kollam). The candidate did take the exam," said NTA in a statement.

While mentioning the dress code for NEET, NTA said that it doesn't permit any such activity alleged by the parent of the candidate.

Parent Recounts Incident

While recounting the indisciplinary action by the institute, the parent of the student as per Times of India report said, "After reaching the examination centre early, the candidate went for the preliminary checking at the screening area. There she was subjected for a metal detector screening in which there was a beep sound. The woman who was screening her said that 'there is a metal substance in the innerwear and hence it will have to be removed before entering hall'."

"When my daughter claimed that there was no such substance in the innerwear, she was subjected to mental harassment. She had to remove it before entering the examination hall," he said.