Noida teacher sacked after she chops off students' hair to discipline them

A teacher of a private school in Noida has been dismissed over protest by parents of about a dozen students after she “symbolically” cut the hair of their wards in a disciplinary action against them, police said on Thursday. The incident took place at the school located in Sector 168 on Wednesday following which the enraged parents staged a protest on Thursday.

"Police were alerted about the situation today, and representatives from the neighbourhood Motorway police station visited the Shanti International School and noted the gravity of the situation. Parents of about 12 pupils and the school administration discussed the issue. The school ultimately chose to immediately terminate the teacher's employment," according to Additional DCP (Noida) Shakti Mohan Avasthy.

Regarding the teacher's act, Avasthy stated, "She was in charge of discipline at the school and had been pleading with the pupils to get their hair cut for several days, but in vain. To reprimand them, she herself chopped their hair."

According to police, Sushma claimed to have warned students earlier about their haircuts, but they did not follow her warning. On Wednesday, she chopped some of their locks to reinforce a sense of discipline.

After the incident came to light, parents of the students staged a protest and escalated the matter to the police on Thursday. The school management then decided to terminate the services of the teacher immediately. The school management and parents of the students have talked the matter out, Avasthi said. No case, however, was registered as the school and parents resolved the dispute and the parents had decided not to press charges.