Boy suspended from school for applying 'mehndi'

CHENNAI: A seven-year-old boy was suspended from a local school here for ten days and fined Rs.500 for applying 'mehndi' (henna paste) on his hand, in contravention of school rules.

The boy's father, R Ganesh Ram, a lawyer, complained to the State Human Rights Commission that his son, Kaushik Ram, studying in the third standard at the Doveton Matric Higher Secondary school, was ill-treated by the school management for applying mehndi on November 20.

Ram, in his complaint, alleged that the Principal had abused him when he went to see him on Tuesday, to explain reasons for his son applying mehndi and to seek revocation of the suspension.
  
"I tried to tell her that it was the practice in my family on the first day of Karthikai (a tamil month) when I start my pooja for going on pilgrimage to Sabarimala."

Ram alleged that the Principal had accused him of being a Hindu fanatic for undertaking a pilgrimage to Sabarimala.
    
The boy was also made to stand in the playground for over an hour before being suspended and fined, he alleged.

Reacting to the charge, school authorities said applying mehndi was banned in the school. The parents were told about the school rules, when the children were admitted. "We have to take action for non-compliance of rules," they said.