The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association on Thursday urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to intervene in a case of alleged religious discrimination against a young Muslim doctor from the Kashmir Valley.
The doctor, Dr Zubair Ahmad, was allegedly asked to shave off his beard as a condition for admission to the DrNB (Nephrology) course at Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital (KMCH), Coimbatore.
Dr Ahmad got admission in KMCH under the 2nd round of NEET-SS counselling conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS).
Upon reporting to the hospital to complete admission formalities, he was reportedly asked to sign a policy document prohibiting beards — a condition he said conflicted with his religious obligations as a practising Muslim.
The Association stated that Dr Ahmad had assured the administration that he would comply with all hygiene protocols, including wearing a surgical mask over his beard, and adhere to the institutional dress code.
Nevertheless, the hospital administration allegedly insisted that he must shave or trim his beard to proceed with the course.
Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, said the hospital had made it unequivocally clear that beards were not permitted. “He was specifically told to shave his beard to be allowed to study at the super-speciality hospital,” the Association noted in its letter.
Dr Ahmad, who completed his MBBS, MD and senior residency at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, maintained that he had never faced such restrictions in his previous academic or professional settings.
He argued that had the beard policy been disclosed during the NEET-SS counselling process, he would not have opted for KMCH.
With no resolution available, Dr Ahmad withdrew from the programme, forfeiting a seat he had secured on an all-India merit basis.
He has since written to NBEMS requesting permission to participate in the third round of counselling and seeking a refund of the ₹2 lakh security deposit paid during admission.
The Association described the incident as a violation of Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion.
“The hospital's insistence on a so-called 'clean-shaven, corporate appearance' is neither essential to medical education nor relevant to patient care, ethics, or hygiene — the core tenets of the medical profession,” the letter said.
Khuehami added, “Such appearance-based restrictions are not only unnecessary but also discriminatory and exclusionary. Imposing this policy after seat allotment, without prior disclosure, is unjust and breaches both the spirit and the letter of the Constitution.”
Expressing concern that the incident occurred in Tamil Nadu, the Association remarked that the state has traditionally been seen as a beacon of progressive values and inclusive governance.
“Tamil Nadu has long welcomed students and professionals from all corners of India, including the Kashmir Valley. This episode threatens to tarnish that proud legacy and sends a troubling message to marginalised and minority students,” the statement said.
“Forcing a Kashmiri doctor to shave his beard — an intrinsic part of his religious identity — not only infringes upon his fundamental rights but also fosters fear, exclusion and alienation in educational environments that should uphold acceptance, equity and dignity,” it added.
The Association called on Chief Minister Stalin to take urgent steps to uphold religious freedoms in educational and healthcare institutions across the state.
“We request your intervention to discourage discriminatory institutional policies that violate constitutional rights and to help restore confidence among students and professionals who regard Tamil Nadu as a symbol of progress, tolerance and justice,” the letter concluded.
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