Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane demands ban on burqa at board exams, cites ‘incidents of cheating
Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane on Wednesday called for a ban on wearing burqas during next month’s Std 10 and 12 state board examinations.
In a letter addressed to school education minister Dada Bhuse, Rane expressed concerns that allowing female candidates to wear burqas in examination halls might lead to cheating and pose security risks.
“Students appearing for the 10th and 12th board exams should not be allowed to wear burqas. If necessary, female police officers or staff should be deployed for checks. These exams are crucial for students’ futures and must be conducted fairly and without any malpractices like cheating.
“If examinees are permitted to wear burqas, it will be challenging to detect the use of electronic devices or other means to cheat. Additionally, any untoward incidents could result in social or law-and-order problems, impacting numerous students,” the BJP leader stated.
Rane, who represents Kankavli as an MLA and holds the fisheries and ports development portfolios, raised these concerns ahead of the exams. The school education ministry has not yet responded to his request, officials said.
The Maharashtra Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam for Class 10 is scheduled to begin on February 21, while the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam for Class 12 will start on February 11.
