India Today ·
Keralam child rights panel says schools cannot punish boys for long hair
Keralam's child rights commission has told schools not to punish boys or gender-nonconforming children over hair length. The order pushes schools to frame inclusive rules that balance choice, safety and hygiene.
The Keralam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has said boys and children who do not identify with a specific gender are free to grow their hair as they choose, and schools must not discriminate against or punish them over hair length.
In an order issued by commission member P Shajesh Bhaskar, the panel said such children also have the right to maintain their hair and choose their dress according to their preference. It said appropriate guidelines should be prepared urgently, as it had not found any specific directions on the issue from the state Education Department or the CBSE.
At the same time, the commission said hair should be kept clean and properly maintained, and should not cover the eyes or face. During laboratory activities, sports competitions and practical classes, students should tie their hair or keep it secured with a hair band for safety reasons. It also advised against the use of chemicals or hair colours that could be harmful to health.
The commission said school authorities should not mentally harass boys or transgender children, remove them from classes, discriminate against them, or subject them to any other punitive measures over hair length or related matters. It said schools should give greater priority to students' academic progress and personality development than to their external appearance.
The panel also directed that boys and children who do not identify with a specific gender should be included in the committee framing the guidelines and should be heard before the rules are issued to schools. It asked the respondents to submit a report on the action taken on its recommendations within 45 days.
The order came after the commission considered two petitions. One was filed by Ramanattukara resident Indu Menon, who alleged that schools, despite claiming to be gender-neutral, discriminated against boys and children who do not identify with a specific gender and treated boys with long hair like offenders. The other was filed by the principal of a private school in Kottakkal, who said an 11th-standard boy had repeatedly refused to cut his hair despite being asked to do so, and sought guidelines on how schools should deal with such cases.
In its order, the commission said children should not face discrimination over personal appearance, while schools should ensure basic safety and hygiene and work on clear rules on the issue without delay.