Karnataka college resolves row with Kashmiri students over beard

A dispute arose at a Karnataka nursing college when Kashmiri students were denied entry for not adhering to grooming regulations requiring a clean-shaven or neatly trimmed beard. The college administration reached a compromise, permitting students to maintain a trimmed beard while emphasizing the importance of hygiene standards in medical settings.

Representative photo HASSAN: A row over Kashmiri students sporting beard in a nursing college in Karnataka’s Hassan district was resolved on Sunday with college administration thrashing out a compromise formula, allowing the students to either have a clean-shaven look or keep his beard closely trimmed. Fifteen male and three female students from J&K are studying in Govt College of Nursing, Holenarasipur in Hassan under the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS). Sources alleged that several students were denied entry to the college on Nov 8 for refusing to follow grooming requirements, which are mandatory in a medical institution.

These students contacted J&K Students’ Association, claiming they were “barred from laboratory sessions for not shaving or trimming” their beard. Principal Chandrashekhar said, “In hospital and labs, we need to follow standards of hygiene..

. On Nov 8, these students were sent out as they didn’t follow the instruction.” He noted these students had irregular attendance in academic activities.

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