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Reply on PIL against 'religious profiling' of students: Gujarat High Court to state government

The petitioner has also challenged the board's decision to make an online application form for the final examination of class X and XII mandatory

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The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday sought a response from the state and Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board after a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed alleging that the authorities are carrying out religious profiling of Class X and XII students, more particularly of Muslims.

The petitioner has also challenged the board's decision to make an online application form for the final examination of class X and XII mandatory, whereby students are being forced to divulge their Aadhar and religious details. The petition filed by advocate KR Koshti was taken up for hearing by the division bench of Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav, which immediately issued a notice to the state and the board directing it to file a reply by December 6.

The advocate submitted that at the time of filling the application for examination, a column asking whether the candidate belongs to a minority community is there. If the candidate selects 'yes', a drop-down menu appears providing options—Muslim and other minority community. It is his contention that the same is being done for religious profiling of students, especially of Muslims.

Koshti has contended in his petition that the state government has sought Aadhar number from the students who will be appearing for class X and XII board exams in March 2019 in clear contravention of the verdict given by the Constitution bench of the Supreme Court. As per the apex court verdict, Aadhar card details can be linked only for the public distribution scheme, LPG subsidies, and income tax returns. He claimed that the action of the state authorities is nothing, but contempt of court.

The petitioner has also contended that although online filling of forms for class X and XII examinations has been made mandatory, there are several backward areas within the state where internet connectivity is a problem. He claimed that the interiors of Saurashtra and Kutch have severe internet connectivity problems despite the presence of private operators.

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