Srinagar, Jun 26 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association on Thursday wrote to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru M.K. Stalin, seeking his immediate intervention after a Kashmiri doctor was allegedly denied admission for a super-speciality degree in a prestigious institution in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore due to his beard.
The JKSA said a Kashmiri doctor was allotted a DrNB (Nephrology) seat at Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital (KMCH), Coimbatore, through the NEET-SS second counselling round conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). He was allegedly asked to shave his beard.
In its letter, the Association said that upon reporting to the hospital to complete admission formalities, the doctor was reportedly asked to sign a policy document that prohibited sporting a beard, a condition he said contradicted his religious obligations as a practicing Muslim.
National Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association Nasir Khuehami said that the hospital was unequivocal in its demand that doctor shave or trim his beard in order to enroll.
“He was categorically asked to shave his beard to be permitted to study at the super-speciality hospital,” the Association’s letter stated.
The doctor was informed that KMCH has a dress code prohibiting beards. Even after he assured the administration of his willingness to adhere to all professional norms and conceal his beard if required, the policy remained non-negotiable.
The letter further pointed out that had this beard policy been transparently disclosed during the counselling process, he would not have opted for the institute. With no alternative left, the doctor was compelled to withdraw from the programme, despite having secured the seat on an all-India merit basis.
The Association expressed particular disappointment that such an incident occurred in Tamil Nadu, a state known for its progressive values and inclusive governance.
“Tamil Nadu has long welcomed students and professionals from across India, including the Kashmir Valley. This incident threatens to tarnish that proud legacy and sends a disturbing message to students from marginalized and minority backgrounds.”
“Forcing a Kashmiri doctor to shave his beard, a core part of his religious identity not only violates his fundamental rights but also fosters fear, exclusion, and alienation in academic spaces, which should instead promote acceptance, equity, and dignity,” he added.
The Association urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to take urgent steps to ensure that religious freedoms are protected across educational and healthcare institutions in Tamil Nadu.
“We request your intervention to discourage discriminatory institutional policies that infringe upon constitutional rights and to help restore the confidence of students and professionals who look up to Tamil Nadu as a beacon of progress, tolerance, and justice,” the letter stated.
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