New Delhi, August 14th, 2012

The National Human Rights Commission issued a notice today to the Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka seeking a report within four weeks into the allegations that a private school in Bangalore cut off tufts of hair on top of the heads of four children in order to distinguish them under the Right to Education quota.

Allegedly, these students of Standard-I in the school are made to stand separately in humiliation during the assembly and their lunch boxes are checked before they enter their classes. The parents of the children have also alleged that the names of their wards have not been entered in the attendance register and the school makes them sit in the back benches and no home work is given to them.

The Commission has observed that allegations, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the children. While seeking a report into these allegations, the Commission has also asked the Chief Secretary of Karnataka to inform it on the action taken against the school authorities under the Rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Act.

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