Al Haqeeqa
By Muslim Mirror Staff
West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB) has rejected more than 30,000 application forms submitted for recruitment of constables and lady constables. This was done due to “mistakes” with their forms, which include wearing hijab or headscarves in photos attached with the forms.
The applications of over 1,000 Muslim girls were rejected because they are seen wearing headscarves or hijabs in the photos that they had attached with their forms.
WBPRB guidelines say that faces of the applicants should not be covered in any way in the photos. The guidelines read: “Applicants are advised not to upload images of other objects in place of photograph and signature. The photograph with face/head covering, sunglass/tinted glasses covering the eyes will not be accepted. Photographs cropped from ‘groupies’ or ‘selfies’ shall also be disallowed during the scrutiny.”
The WBPRB is about to conduct a preliminary exam in this regard on 26 September. It has issued admit cards for the same.
The West Bengal unit of Students Islamic Organisaion of India (SIO) has written to WBPRB chairperson in connection with the rejection of application forms.
The SIO demanded that the candidates should be given appropriate time to re-upload or edit their forms. It maintained that it is Muslim women’s right to wear to hijab and this must not be treated as a reason for rejection of their forms.
”The uniform act or norms can be imposed after recruitment, not at the time of examination,” the organisation added.
