Imagine this. Your child woke up early. Wore their uniform. Polished their shoes.
You dropped them to school — nervous, but ready for their exam.
And then the school sent them back outside.
Not for bunking. Not for cheating. Not for anything that remotely involves
academics. For their hair.
That is exactly what happened at St. Teresa High School, Charni Road,
Mumbai — and the video that captured it has parents, educators, and
legal experts asking one very uncomfortable question: Is this even legal?
“Tell Me — Where Are the Long Hairs?” ?
A parent stood in the school corridor with his son and three other students —
all in full uniform, ID cards around their necks, sitting on a bench
outside the exam hall while their classmates wrote their papers inside.
He pointed to his son’s head and addressed the camera directly.
“Yeh baal dekh ke aap batao — kahan se jo hai woh iske baal badhe hue hain?”
(Look at this hair and tell me — from which angle does it look long?)
And honestly — looking at the video — it’s a fair question.
The boys’ hair was short. Neatly trimmed. Well-groomed. There was nothing any
reasonable person would describe as “overgrown.” Yet here they were.
Outside. Waiting.
One Child? No. Four. ?
This wasn’t an isolated complaint. Four students were pulled
out of their examinations on the same day, for the same reason. Four children sat in
that corridor together while the exam clock ticked inside.
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The parent wasn’t just speaking for his son — he walked the camera from
child to child.
“Yeh baccha dekho… yeh baccha dekho… yeh baccha dekho.”
(Look at this child… and this one… and this one.)
We’ve all heard of schools being strict about appearance — but
barring students from sitting an examination is a completely different
level. That’s not discipline. That’s directly interfering with a
child’s academic future.
This Isn’t Even the First Time ?
Here’s where it gets worse. The parent revealed that in
previous examinations, the school had already
docked 5 marks per student over the same grooming objection.
Five marks. Gone. Not because they didn’t study. Not because they performed
poorly. But because someone at the school decided their hair didn’t meet an
unwritten standard.
Let’s be real — 5 marks can be the difference between a pass
and a fail. For Maharashtra Board students, those marks matter enormously.
And now the school has escalated from penalising to outright excluding.
What Does the Law Actually Say? ??
This is the part every parent — and every school administrator — needs
to read carefully.
RTE Act, 2009 — Section 17 is unambiguous:
No child shall be subjected to physical punishment or mental
harassment.
Barring a student from sitting an exam without any academic or attendance-based
justification falls squarely into the category of mental harassment.
Full stop.
MSBSHSE exam eligibility criteria:
- ? Minimum attendance percentage
- ? Fee clearance (where applicable)
- ? No active disciplinary suspension through proper process
Haircut length is not on that list. It has never been on that list.
Schools may enforce grooming standards during school hours — but converting a
grooming rule into an exam eligibility criterion is a different legal matter
entirely.
“Maine Police Mein Bhi Complaint Kiya Hoon” ?
The parent confirmed a formal police complaint had been filed and
that the police were on their way. He also announced his next step — taking all
four students to the Maharashtra Education Ministry directly.
“Isko highlight kijiye aur school ke upar action lijiye.”
(Highlight this issue and take action against the school.)
What Can Parents Do If This Happens to You? ?
- Demand a written notice from the school — they are legally
obligated to provide one. - Do not leave without documentation. Verbal instructions do not
hold up. - File a written complaint with the principal same day —
keep a copy. - Contact the District Education Officer (DEO) for your area.
- File an RTI if the school refuses to share its written discipline
policy. - Contact MSCPCR if the school does not respond within 48 hours.
Where Does This Go From Here? ?
- ? Police complaint filed
- ? Incident captured on video with direct parent testimony
- ? Parent approaching Maharashtra Education Ministry — pending
- ? School’s official response — not yet received
- ? MSBSHSE review of school’s exam entry policy — pending
We will continue to follow this story and update this article when St. Teresa High
School responds officially.
Fair — or Unfair? You Tell Us. ?
Maybe you’re a parent who’s been through something similar. Maybe
you’re a teacher who sees the school’s side. Maybe you’re a student
who’s had marks docked for reasons that had nothing to do with academics.
Drop your experience in the comments. These conversations matter
— and the more voices speak up, the harder it becomes for situations like this
to stay invisible.
Because every child who walks into school deserves one simple thing:
A fair chance to show what they know. ?
here –>
Newspatron — Let Curiosity Be Your Guide.
