Keralam panel says boys, children who don't identify with a gender can keep long hair

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has said boys and children who do not identify with a particular gender can grow their hair as they wish. It directed schools not to harass, exclude or discriminate against students over hair length and called for urgent guidelines.The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has said boys and children who do not identify with a particular gender can grow their hair as they wish.The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has said that boys and children who do not identify with a particular gender have the freedom to grow their hair according to their preferences.The commission has directed schools not to subject students to mental harassment, classroom exclusion, discriminatory treatment or other punitive measures 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 discrimination linked to students’ appearance.STUDENTS’ RIGHTS OVER HAIR AND GROOMINGAccording 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 safe. The commission noted that hair should not obstruct a student’s vision or cover the face. For safety reasons, students may be required to tie back or secure their hair with a hairband during laboratory work, sports competitions and practical classes.It also said that using chemicals or dyes that could harm health is not advisable. Children who do not identify with a particular gender should also have the right to groom their hair and choose their clothing according to their preferences, the commission said.SCHOOLS ASKED TO FOCUS ON EDUCATIONThe commission stated that schools should give priority to students’ academic progress and personality development rather than their physical appearance.It further observed that neither the Kerala Education Department nor the Central Board of Secondary Education appears to have issued specific guidelines on hair length and grooming rules in this context.The commission directed that appropriate guidelines be prepared urgently. It said the committee drafting the guidelines should include boys and children who do not identify with a particular gender, and that their views must be 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 LED TO THE ORDERThe 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 of gender neutrality.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 seeks to establish that grooming preferences alone should not become a basis for humiliation, exclusion or discriminatory treatment in schools.- EndsPublished On: Sep 18, 2026 11:29 IST