Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday allowed Muslim girl students wearing 'hijab' can write the AIIMS entrance test which will be held on May 28.

The counsel for the Union government and the AIIMS told the bench that the girl students wearing 'hijab,' however, will have to report an hour before the beginning of the examination to undergo the mandatory physical verification in time.

The submission was made to a bench of Justice P B Suresh Kumar during the hearing of a plea by Muslim girl students and various Islamic organisations, challenging an AIIMS regulation which prohibited the students from wearing headgear and scarves.

Petitoners said prohibiting headgear and scarves for candidates appearing for the entrance was unconstitutional and violation of their right to religious freedom guaranteed by Article 25

The petitioners alleged this instruction, prohibiting students from wearing the headgear and scarves, was printed on the admit cards for the AIIMS' MBBS test. They said prohibiting headgear and scarves for candidates appearing for the entrance was unconstitutional and violation of their right to religious freedom guaranteed by Article 25.

The court had earlier sought the Centre's stand on the pleas by the Muslim girl students and organisations. But with the Counsel for the Centre and AIIMS, clarifying its stand, Justice recorded his submission and disposed of the petition.