Telangana: Candidates forced to remove mangalsutra during state-conducted competitive exam

In a shocking case of cultural insensitivity, many married women who appeared for the post of village revenue officers (VROs) in exam conducted by Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) on Sunday. This lead to outrage and protest by the husbands of affected ladies, reports Hindustan Times. 

Nearly 10 lakh candidates appeared for the examination in 2000 centres spread across the southern state. The number of vacancies to be filled is only 700 though. According to reports, while in most places, invigilators and administrators used their common sense, a centre in Narsapur went a little overboard with their security arrangement. Officials of  Little Flower School wanted mangalsutra to be removed before candidates take their test. The women repeatedly tried to say that it is against their religious belief and is taken as inauspicious, the officials had none of it. Husbands of the affected ladies protested outside the school with mangalsutra in their hand. 

Soon the matter flared up, and while some women toed the official line, others called the cops who were present to provide security in the centre. With cops intervention, some managed to give the exam without removing their mangalsutra. However, TSPSC officials believe that the entire outrage is blown out of proportion as all candidates managed to give the exam. According to exam body, they never gave such instructions and probably some overzealous officers mistook the ban on golden ornaments for being applicable on mangalsutra too. 

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