Full Breakdown
Mass Haircut Controversy at Maharashtra Ashram School
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
Around 80 – 82 students at the Government Secondary and Higher Secondary Ashram School in Jambhulghat, Chimur taluka, were left with partially shaved heads after a haircut session on Saturday. The school superintendent instructed the barber to give a “close” cut to prevent children from leaving the line to play. The trimmer’s battery failed, leaving many pupils with uneven, half-shaved hair. After photographs of the half-shaved students spread on social media, officials ordered the remaining hair to be trimmed uniformly. The second round began late at night, waking students and continuing until early Sunday morning.
Background & Prior Concerns
The school, a residential institution with roughly 570 enrolments from classes 1-11, has previously faced scrutiny. Earlier reports highlighted a food-poisoning episode linked to stale meals, prompting social-organisation calls for better safety and monitoring. The current haircut episode revived those concerns about overall student welfare and administrative oversight.
Official Statements & Responses
Superintendent Prashant Meshram defended the action, saying regular haircuts are normally scheduled every two months but were missed during the rainy season. He argued that warm weather and outdoor play had increased dandruff and scalp itching, necessitating an urgent haircut for health reasons. The school principal Prashant Giri issued a show-cause notice to superintendent P K Atram over the incident. The Tribal Development Department’s Integrated Officer forwarded an initial report to the upper commissioner and directed that the remaining haircuts be completed promptly.
Criticism & Calls for Accountability
Parents have demanded a thorough, independent investigation, insisting that neither students nor their guardians were consulted before the haircut began. They allege that pressure was placed on the barber to carry out the cuts and seek disciplinary action against any officials found responsible. Student representatives reportedly denied that the partial cuts were intended as punishment or linked to superstition.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the scale of the incident: India Today and NDTV cite roughly 500 students undergoing haircuts, while NDTV and IndiaTimes report about 80-82 pupils receiving the half-shaved treatment. No definitive figure has been confirmed, and it remains unclear which authority authorized the initial haircut schedule and whether parental consent was obtained.