Told to Trim Beard due to dress code policy, NEET SS Aspirant Quits DrNB Nephrology Seat, Moves NMC

Coimbatore: A doctor has alleged that he had to forgo his doctorate of national board (DrNB) seat at a Coimbatore private hospital after being informed that he would have to trim his beard while studying at the super-speciality institute. 

The doctor, who had secured admission in the Nephrology Department at Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital (KMCH) through NEET-SS counselling, claimed that the institute asked him to adhere to a dress code that prohibited long beards, which he said conflicted with his religious beliefs. 

According to the doctor, he was informed during the admission process that refusal to comply with the grooming policy could lead to denial of his seat. While he offered to cover his beard with a mask, he stated that the request was declined by the institute. The incident prompted him to file a complaint with the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC), alleging violation of religious freedom under Article 25 of the Constitution.

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.

Also Read: NEET PG 2025: 3 New Exam Centres Added in JnK

Speaking to Careers360, the doctor stated on condition of anonymity that he had picked the institute because of the positive feedback about its nephrology programme. However, the facial hair rule was an obstacle to that. "I was told that the institute has a dress code in place, which includes prohibition on beard. I explained that I was ready to follow the dress code, and even hide my beard with a mask, but it wasn't acceptable to them. The institute director said it's a corporate organisation and that the policy has been instituted by the chairman, who had studied medicine in the United States (US)," said the doctor.

Allegedly, the doctor also explained to the authorities that the presence of the facial hair, or lack of it, had no bearing on his academic performance and ability to provide care to the patients. However, this did not resolve the situation. 

He claimed that he never had to face any such condition while studying MBBS, MD, and undergoing Senior Residency at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar. Further, the doctor mentioned that had he known about the institute's no-beard policy during the counselling process, he wouldn't have applied for the same.

Careers360 has reported that after the incident, the doctor also 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.

In his representation to NMC PG Board, the doctor wrote, "I humbly state that keeping a beard is an integral part of my Islamic faith, and I cannot be expected to compromise on this in a secular country like India, which guarantees freedom of religion under the Article 25 of the Constitution of India. Moreover, medical training and practice should be based on competence, ethics and patient care – not personal appearance that doesn't hinder hygiene or safety."

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. He said, "I no longer want to study at the institute, as they may cause trouble for the next three years. There's no point in litigation either as the chairman is a prominent person and I would get stressed." He also informed the Daily that he would try his luck at other institutes or participate in the counselling in the next year.

Meanwhile, these allegations have been denied by the KMCH's medical director TP Kalaniti, who claimed that the doctor was denied admission due to non-payment of admission fee and not due to his beard.

He said, "He can still come and join the institute."

However, Kalaniti further added that the doctor required to adopt the institute's policy, which, according to him, does not bar the beard but rather wants it to be trimmed.

"He has to trim his beard. We can't see a long beard like a clergyman," he said, further adding, "all our doctors need to be dressed uniformly, with shoes and ID card. They must be appealing to the patients."