Bihar Hijab Row: Female Doctor Whose Naqab Was Removed By Nitish Kumar Didn't Join Duty

Last Updated:December 20, 2025, 22:16 IST

As per the protocol, candidates are required to report to the civil surgeon office in Patna and then join their respective workplaces.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar pulls down woman's hijab at an event.

A female doctor whose hijab was removed by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during an event in Patna earlier this week did not join duty on Saturday, officials said.

Patna Civil Surgeon Avinash Kumar Singh said that Nusrat Parveen, a newly hired AYUSH doctor at the centre of the hijab row, did not join the duty till 7 pm on Saturday and the “possibility window for the day" was closed.

“I have been informed that the last date of joining has been extended beyond December 20. It remains to be seen whether Parveen joins on Monday or not," he said as quoted by news agency PTI.

The civil surgeon was not aware about the exact reason behind the delay in the woman doctor’s joining, if at all she joins, as he “had no contact with her or the family members." He said that as per the protocol, candidates are required to report to the civil surgeon office in Patna and then join their respective workplaces.

It remains to be seen whether Parveen joins on Monday or not," he said, without specifying the new deadline.

Vijay Kumar, a surgeon at Sabalpur PHC in Patna Sadar where Parveen was expected to join, also confirmed that the woman doctor has not joined duty.

“Around five-six people have joined today, and Parveen is not among them… Her name is in the list but we have not received her appointment letter from the civil surgeon office in Patna," he said as quoted by the news agency.

The Hijab Row

A video of Nitish Kumar went viral where he was seen removing the hijab of a woman who came to collect her appointment letter from him.

Parveen was among the ten Ayush doctors who had turned up at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Monday to receive their letters of appointment. When Parveen’s turn came, Kumar pointed towards her veil (Hijab) and exclaimed ‘what is this’ before pulling it down and exposing her face.

The incident has drawn criticism from far and wide, including many West Asian countries, and the JD (U) president is facing accusations of disrespecting Muslim traditions, allegedly in line with ‘RSS agenda’.

Governor Arif Mohammad Khan expressed his disappointment over the naqab row.

“It pains me to hear the word ‘dispute’ in this case. Can there be any row between a father and a daughter?" he asked.

Speaking to reporters in Patna, he said, “What have you people made out of it? This man (Nitish Kumar) considers female students as his daughters."

Earlier in the day, Mahfoozur Rahman, principal of Government Tibbi College & Hospital (GTCH), of which Parveen is a second-year student, had indicated an extension in the deadline beyond Saturday in “this special case".

“Ayush doctor Nusrat Parveen has not joined yet, and there is no update on her future course of action," Rahman said.

“Her family said that they want to escape media coverage, and that the woman doctor will rethink whether to join or not," the principal said.

Rahman also dismissed claims that the family has moved to Kolkata due to resentment, saying that “they have themselves rubbished such false news reports".

He quoted Parveen’s husband as saying that the family is not angry with Nitish Kumar or the government.

He also claimed that “the family is disappointed with the row stirred by the media."

(With inputs from agencies)

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