Kerala: 5 Women Held For Forcing NEET Students To Remove Innerwear, NTA Forms Fact-Finding Panel

Ministry of Education has asked NTA to ascertain all facts about the center of NEET (UG)- 2022 where women candidates were reportedly asked to remove their innerwear.

NEET UG exam. (File Photo/PTI)

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday formed a fact-finding committee to look into the alleged incident where a NEET aspirant was asked to remove her innerwear in Kerala's Kollam district on Monday. According to reports, the committee has been constituted by the NTA to ascertain the facts in detail. The committee was formed by NTA after government took congisance of the matter.

Five women who forced students to remove their innerwears have been arrested by Kerala Police. 

Ministry of Education has asked NTA to ascertain all facts about the center of NEET (UG)- 2022 where women candidates were reportedly asked to remove their innerwear. "The committee will go to the spot and speak with stakeholders present at that time in Kollam district," the ministry informed.

"Further action will be taken based on the report of the fact-finding committee which will visit Kollam," a senior MoE official told news agency ANI.

The incident came to light after father of a 17-year-old girl in Kerala’s Kollam district lodged a police complaint. He accused that her daughter had followed the dress code mentioned in the NEET bulletin.

The father also alleged that NEET bulletin does not state anything about innerwear of students and claimed that her daughter was asked to remove her bra to be allowed to write the exam.

More students have lodged complaint regarding the issue. A report by Mathrubhumi stated that the women who removed innerwears of girl at the exam centre has been booked under non-bailable charge. Police has booked the woman under charges including outraging modesty of women.

Two more students have approached the Police and raised similar concern. 

The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has also ordered investigation into the incident. The Commission directed the Kollam Rural SP to file a report within 2 weeks.