Aligarh: In a disturbing incident that has sparked outrage in Aligarh, a meritorious student named Hema Kashyap was allegedly denied the opportunity to appear for the NEET medical entrance exam due to repeated cancellations of her OBC caste certificate by local officials—all reportedly over her wearing a scarf in the application photograph.
Hema, a resident of Manzoorgarhi village in the Iglas tehsil of Aligarh district, said she had applied for the OBC certificate three times, but each time her application was rejected without any clear explanation. According to her, the photo she submitted with the application showed her wearing a scarf on her head—something she says is part of Indian cultural dress and also helps protect from the heat.
“I wore a scarf simply to protect myself from the sun. My face was clearly visible in the photograph,” Hema said, questioning the rationale behind the rejections. “Even when I submitted a photo without the scarf in the third application, my request was still denied,” she added.
Due to the absence of an OBC certificate, Hema could not submit her NEET application form, despite preparing for the exam for over a year.
When questioned, local tehsil staff reportedly stated that photographs with any head covering were not acceptable, though no such official guideline was cited. Hema has since filed a formal complaint with Aligarh District Magistrate Sanjeev Ranjan, demanding strict action against the concerned officials for discriminatory behavior.
Taking note of the seriousness of the case, the District Magistrate has ordered an inquiry. Hema has also appealed to the Chief Minister, urging action against negligence and caste-based bias in the administration.
