Kerala child rights panel bars schools from penalising boys over hair length

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has ordered that schools cannot punish, harass or discriminate against boys or gender-nonconforming students over hair length. In an order issued on September 15, commission member P Shajesh Bhaskar said such children have the right to keep their hair and choose their dress according to preference. The panel noted that neither the state Education department nor the CBSE had issued specific guidelines on the matter.

The order followed two petitions. One was filed by Ramanattukara resident Indu Menon, who alleged schools discriminated against boys with long hair. The other was from a private school principal in Kottakkal, seeking guidance after a Class 11 boy refused to cut his hair. The commission directed that students must be included in the committee framing new guidelines and that a report on action taken be submitted within 45 days.