Dr. Zubair Ahmed, a Kashmiri doctor who secured a super-specialty seat in nephrology at Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital (KMCH), Coimbatore, through the NEET-SS, has accused the hospital of pressuring him to trim or shave his beard as a condition for joining. The beard, which he maintains for religious reasons, became a point of contention when the hospital cited hygiene concerns due to the sensitive nature of nephrology patients’ immunity.
Dr. Ahmed reportedly offered to comply with hygiene protocols, including masking his beard, but declined to trim it. As per sources, the hospital refused to accommodate his request, forcing him to forgo the seat.
In contrast, the hospital stated that no admission was denied and that they were following guidelines from the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). A hospital spokesperson clarified that the request was only to trim the long beard for hygiene purposes, and pointed out that trimmed beards are allowed. The hospital claimed that senior doctors with groomed beards continue to serve there.
The matter gained further attention after Dr. Ahmed reportedly complained to NBEMS, and the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association wrote to Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, alleging discrimination.
The issue has sparked debate over institutional policies on grooming versus religious freedom in professional settings.