Bihar hijab row: Woman doctor yet to join work

The Muslim doctor whose hijab was pulled down by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did not join duty on Saturday (December 20, 2025) the last day of the joining.

On December 15, while distributing appointment letters to newly appointed AYUSH doctors (Ayurvedic, Homeopathic, and Unani), Mr. Kumar had pulled down the hijab of Nusrat Parveen when she approached to receive the appointment letter. She is a postgraduate student of Government Tibbi College and Hospital in Patna.

According to her friend, Ms. Parveen was supposed to join the duty today at a primary health centre in Sabalpur under Patna Sadar after reporting to district civil surgeon Avinash Kumar Singh.

“Today (December 20) by 6 p.m. was the last date to join the duty, but she did not come. However, it does not mean that she cannot join later. There is a possibility if the health department allows her to join. There would be no problem in that,” Mr. Singh told The Hindu.

Ever since the incident, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and several sections of society have been criticising Mr. Kumar’s act. Lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar has demanded an unconditional apology from the Chief Minister.

However, when asked about the issue, Union Minister Giriraj Singh brushed it aside and said that the woman “can refuse to take the job or go to hell”.

The incident also drew a reaction from Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari who offered Ms. Parveen a government job with a monthly salary of ₹3 lakh. “The inhuman and shameful incident with female doctor Dr. Nusrat Parveen in Bihar has shaken the entire country. Pulling down the hijab is not just an insult to one woman, but to the Constitution and humanity. In Jharkhand, there is no compromise on the respect for daughters and doctors. We will give her ₹3 lakh monthly salary, government job, posting of choice, full security and respectful environment,” he said.

Mr. Ansari slammed the Bihar Chief Minister and asked him to tender an apology for his act.