Enforcing Haircut

Dear Sir,
On the facts stated by you, the school cannot automatically be said to have acted illegally merely because it requires a particular hairstyle, because schools—especially recognised/affiliated schools—can prescribe reasonable discipline, grooming and uniform standards through their rules. However, the legality of the action depends substantially on whether there is an actual written rule requiring boys to keep short hair, whether that rule was communicated to students/parents, whether it is applied uniformly, and whether the proposed punishment is proportionate. If the school has no written rule and the demand is simply based upon the personal preference of a Physical Education teacher or the Principal's statement that you “look like a girl,” the school's position becomes considerably weaker. CBSE's affiliation framework requires schools to function according to applicable laws, regulations and affiliation norms, while the Principal has administrative responsibility for the institution.

In my opinion, your strongest immediate argument is not that you have an absolute fundamental right to keep any hairstyle you want, because Indian courts have recognised that educational institutions may impose reasonable discipline and appearance requirements. In Aishat Shifa v. State of Karnataka, the Supreme Court considered the extent to which educational institutions may regulate students' appearance in the context of uniform requirements and recognised that institutional discipline and uniform rules can have legal significance. Therefore, simply saying “hair is my personal choice” may not by itself defeat a genuinely applicable school rule. Your case becomes much stronger, however, if the school cannot identify any written rule, the rule is being selectively enforced, or the punishment is disproportionate to the alleged violation.