Maharashtra education department to probe complaints that Vikhroli school cut students’ hair to punish them

Mumbai city news: Parents of KVV English Medium School complained to the police on Friday that their wards were punished by the school for having long hair. The school allegedly cut students’ hair in a haphazard manner leaving them with bald spots and injuries.

The state school education department is set to investigate a recent incident in which a Vikhroli school cut off their students hair as punishment.

The school refused to comment on the incident stating that it is sub-judice. “The police and the court will decide, I have nothing to say on the matter,” said the school director. (Ht file photo)

Parents of KVV English Medium School complained to the police on Friday that their wards were punished by the school for having long hair. The school allegedly cut students’ hair in a haphazard manner leaving them with bald spots and injuries.

On Saturday, the education department said they would investigate the incident. “The school’s actions were wrong so we will send a ward officer to the school and investigate what happened. The officer will submit a report to the education department,” said Anil Sable, education inspector, North Zone.

The school refused to comment on the incident stating that it is sub-judice. “The police and the court will decide, I have nothing to say on the matter,” said the school director.

In 2015, a 15-year-old boy approached the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) after authorities at Peddar Road school brought in a barber and forcibly cut his hair.

Similarly, in 2014, parents of wards at an Andheri school complained that a teacher had tonsured some students from Classes 8 and 9, claiming their hair were overgrown and unkempt.