Kochi, March 23 The KCBC, a key body of the Catholic Church in Kerala, on Monday urged authorities to reschedule all-India engineering entrance examinations that are scheduled to be held on Christian holy days such as Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday.
In a statement issued here, the council said conducting competitive examinations on days considered sacred by Christians would amount to a violation of the fundamental right to freely practice religion as guaranteed by the Constitution.
The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) observed that such instances, which recur frequently, constitute an undue infringement on the religious freedom of the Christian community.
The council called for the exams scheduled on Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday this year to be postponed.
KCBC president Archbishop Varghese Chakkalakal, vice president Bishop Samuel Mar Irenios and secretary general Archbishop Thomas Tharayil jointly made the demand.
KCBC spokesperson Fr Thomas Tharayil said representations would also be submitted to the Centre and officials of the National Testing Agency in this regard, the statement added.