Kasaragod Dalit boy’s hair cut in school: Teacher absconding; court defers hearing

Kasaragod: Police have said that the head teacher who was suspended in connection  the hair cutting of a Dalit boy during assembly at Mar Gregorios Memorial UP School in Kottamala is still absconding.

On Tuesday, the District Principal Sessions Court conducted a hearing regarding the respondent. However, it has postponed the hearing of head teacher Sherly Joseph’s anticipatory bail plea, as it is essential to hear the boy’s perspective before making a decision.

The incident involving the haircut occurred on October 19. In response to a request from the school’s teachers to trim his long hair, the boy declined, and as a result, his hair was forcibly cut during the school assembly. The boy informed his parents and refused to go to school. Upon learning the incident, the parents reported it to a community forum, which led to the filing of a police complaint.

The head teacher was booked by evoking provisions of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act. As the controversy escalated, the headmistress was suspended. Besides, the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights took a suo motu case. The new development comes at this juncture.

Courtesy : Mathrubhumi

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