Kerala: Student made to remove bra for NEET, files case against male external for staring

PALAKKAD: A girl student from Kerala, who was forced to remove bra to appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or (NEET) on May 6 has filed a police complaint againt a male invigilator at the centre for staring at her ‘inappropriately.’

Based on her complaint, police registered a case under IPC sect 509 (eve-teasing by word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) against the external and investigations have begun into the allegations.

According to The News Minute, 18-year-old Saira (name changed) who appeared for NEET on Sunday reported to the Lions School in Koppam in Palakkad district of Kerala.

At the security check, she along with some 25 girls was asked to remove her brassiere as it contained metal hook. The strict guidelines prescribed by CBSE, metal is one of the prohibited items for those appearing for the test.

According to the complainant, the male invigilator stood before her several times and kept staring at her chest repeatedly making her utterly uncomfortable to write the examination.

“He kept dropping into the class once in a while. In the entire duration of the test, he came to my class at least 4 times. The first time, I did not pay much attention when he came and stood near me. But then after sometime he returned and I felt that he was standing in front of me for an unusually long time. When I looked up, I caught him staring at my chest,” Saira was quoted as saying to TNM.

Aaziya Shafi, the sister of the complainant told TNM that her sisiter was forced to cover herself with the question paper.

“She had followed the dress code, was dressed in a light colored half sleeve top, she wasn’t wearing a shawl. Asking her to take off her bra was itself a traumatising experience for her. Above that, the male invigilator stared at her disrespectfully. She was scared out of her wits,” Aaziya said.

About 1,20,792 candidates from Kerala had appeared for the test being conducted by the CBSE for medical and dental courses.