Dress Code Dispute: Students Seek CM's Intervention after doctor quits DrNB seat, Hospital Upholds Grooming Norms
Coimbatore: After a doctor from Jammu and Kashmir alleged that he had to forgo his superspeciality seat at Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital (KMCH) in Coimbatore due to dress code policy, the JK Students Association sought Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's intervention in the matter.
Writing to the Chief Minister on Thursday, the National Convenor, Nasir Khuehami, pointed out how the doctor from Kashmir, Dr. Zubair Ahmad, secured a DrNB (Nephrology) seat at KMCH through NEET-SS counselling. However, he allegedly had to quit his allotted seat due to the institute's dress code policy requiring him to trim his beard, which he maintains is a religious obligation.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that after clearing the National Eligibility-Entrance Test Super Speciality (NEET-SS) examination, in the second round of the counselling, the doctor was allotted a seat at the Nephrology Department of Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital.
However, the doctor, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, claimed that when he went to the institute to confirm his admission, he was asked to sign a policy document that prohibited sporting a beard. He alleged that the institute threatened to deny him allotment if he failed to comply with the rule.
The doctor, who considers the beard an integral part of his Islamic faith and religious identity, did not join the hospital and is now seeking admission in the third round of NEET-SS counselling.
Meanwhile, after the incident, the doctor filed a complaint in this regard before the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC), arguing that the hospital's policy violated the constitutional principle of religious freedom.
Consequently, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) intervened in the matter and directed the institute to allow the candidate to join "subject to fulfilment of eligibility criteria". However, the candidate, already dismayed by his experience, requested NBEMS to allow him instead to participate in the subsequent admission round.
As per the latest media report by the Times of India, despite offering to cover his beard with a surgical mask and adhere to all hygiene protocols, the hospital insisted on a clean-shaven appearance as a part of its dress code. Unable to comply with these requirements, Dr. Zubair withdrew from the programme and sought permission from NBE to participate in the next round of counselling and sought a refund of his Rs 2 lakh security deposit.
Responding to this, Jammu and Kashmir Students Association condemned the institute's policy as discriminatory and unconstitutional, citing Article 25, which guarantees religious freedom.
The association has urged the Chief Minister to protect such freedoms in educational and healthcare institutes, reaffirming Tamil Nadu's legacy of inclusivity and social justice.
Meanwhile, commenting on the matter, the vice-president of KMCH said, "We asked the student to trim his beard to maintain grooming norms. We did not ask him to shave it off. For all employees, we have a clean-shave policy. Those who wish to keep a beard must keep it trimmed, in accordance with their religious norms."
"We have explained this to the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences, clarifying that the student is expected to adhere to the grooming norms. We did not deny him admission — the decision now lies with the student," he added.
