Karnataka: Beard controversy resolved for J&K students at Holenarasipura Nursing College

Dozens of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) students studying at the Government College of Nursing in Holenarasipura, Karnataka, have been allowed to keep their beards following intervention by the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA). The issue arose when some students, who were adhering to their cultural or religious norms, were instructed by the college to trim their beards. Complaints were also made regarding their punctuality and dress code, with students being marked absent during clinical duties due to their beards, which affected their attendance and academic records.

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The matter escalated when the students approached the JKSA, who then wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, seeking intervention. After discussions with the students, the management, including the director and principal of the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, which oversees the nursing college, decided to allow the students to maintain their beards, citing freedom of expression as the key factor in resolving the issue.

The college, part of the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences and affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Bengaluru, has reassured the students that no further issues will arise regarding the beard policy. Students expressed relief after the resolution, stating that they felt safe and supported, and that their concerns had been addressed amicably. The matter is now considered resolved, with the students returning to their studies without further complications.