Kerala child rights panel says boys can keep long hair, urges schools to stop discrimination

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has said boys and children who do not identify with a particular gender should be free to grow and groom their hair according to their preferences, subject to basic cleanliness and safety requirements.

The commission has directed schools not to subject students to mental harassment, classroom exclusion, discriminatory treatment or punitive measures solely because of their hair length or grooming choices.

The order was issued by commission member P Shajesh Bhaskar after considering two separate petitions concerning school rules and alleged discrimination linked to students’ appearance.

Students’ rights over hair and grooming

According to the commission’s order, boys and children who do not identify with a particular gender can maintain their hair as they wish, provided it is kept clean and does not create safety concerns.

The commission said hair should not obstruct a student’s vision or cover the face. Schools may, however, require students to tie back or secure their hair with a hairband during laboratory work, sports competitions and practical classes where safety could be affected.

It also said the use of chemicals or dyes that could harm a child’s health is not advisable.

The commission further stated that children who do not identify with a particular gender should have the right to groom their hair and choose their clothing according to their preferences.

Schools urged to focus on education

The commission said schools should prioritise students’ academic progress and personality development rather than placing undue emphasis on physical appearance.

It also observed that neither the Kerala Education Department nor the Central Board of Secondary Education appears to have issued specific guidelines governing hair length and grooming rules in this context.

The commission directed that appropriate guidelines be prepared urgently. It said the committee responsible for drafting them should include boys and children who do not identify with a particular gender, ensuring their views are considered before the rules are finalised.

A report on the action taken in response to the commission’s recommendations must be submitted within 45 days.

Two petitions prompted the order

The order followed a petition filed by Indu Menon of Ramanattukara, who alleged that boys with long hair were being treated in some schools as though they were delinquent students despite claims that the institutions followed gender-neutral practices.

In a separate petition, the principal of Sacred Heart English Medium School in Kottakkal sought clarity after an 11th-grade student repeatedly refused requests to cut his hair.

The commission’s order places the focus on ensuring that grooming choices do not become a reason for humiliation, exclusion or discriminatory treatment in schools, while allowing institutions to enforce reasonable hygiene and safety requirements.