The Justice K Chandru Committee recommended banning the use of ‘Tilak’ and colored wristbands in educational institutions across Tamil Nadu. The aim of this recommendation is to promote a secular and inclusive environment within schools and colleges. By eliminating these religious and cultural markers, the committee hopes to reduce discrimination and foster unity among students of diverse backgrounds.
In an effort to combat caste-based discrimination and violence in educational institutions, a committee appointed by the Tamil Nadu government, led by retired Madras High Court Judge Justice K. Chandru, submitted its findings to Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday.
The committee, established in August 2023 following an incident involving the assault of Scheduled Caste students in Nanguneri, Tirunelveli, made several recommendations. Notably, the report suggests banning the display of coloured ornaments such as , rings, and forehead marks (tilaka) that signify caste identity.
The report states,
“Students should be prohibited from wearing any coloured wristbands, rings, or forehead marks (Tilaka). They must also refrain from coming to school on bicycles painted with reference to their caste or exhibiting any caste-related sentiments. Failure to comply with these rules must result in appropriate action being taken, in addition to advising their parents or guardians,”
The committee emphasizes the importance of strict regulations to prevent students from using bicycles adorned with caste-related symbols or sentiments. According to the report, non-compliance will lead to disciplinary actions, including counselling for the students’ parents or guardians.
Additionally, the committee recommends a uniform seating arrangement in classrooms across all schools and colleges, based on alphabetical order. It also urges educational institutions to remove any mention of caste from attendance registers and advises teachers to avoid making derogatory remarks or references to students’ caste affiliations.
In a bid to create more inclusive educational environments, the committee suggests that government schools eliminate any caste prefixes or suffixes from their names and extend this requirement to existing private schools with similar appellations. Furthermore, the committee proposes regulatory measures to prevent the use of educational spaces for activities that promote communal or caste-based ideologies.
The report states,
“The students’ attendance register should not contain any column or details relating to their caste. At no point can the class teacher call out students by either directly or indirectly referring to their caste, nor make any derogatory remarks about the student’s caste or the so-called character attributed to the caste,”
The report suggests,
To address concerns about potential ideological biases in educational settings, the committee recommends establishing an expert body to investigate allegations of saffronization and activities that disrupt caste and communal harmony within schools and colleges. “An expert body or an agency can be appointed to investigate allegations of saffronization of education and activities that infiltrate educational institutions, hampering caste and communal harmony,”
The committee recommended regular transfers of high school and higher secondary school staff to avoid any particular caste gaining dominance in administrative roles. It emphasized the importance of thorough orientation programs for teachers and staff, focusing on social justice issues, caste discrimination, sexual violence, and crimes against SC/ST communities.
The report mentions,
“Rules concerning Annual Confidential Reports (ACR) need to be established. The ACR for Officers and Headmasters should include a section to document their attitudes towards Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, with suitable procedures for maintaining these records. A Code of Conduct for teachers and staff in all types of Schools, Colleges, and Universities operated by the State must be legally mandated.”
The Committee recommends that, as a long-term objective, the State should introduce separate legislation for all students, from schools to higher educational institutions, to enforce a policy of social inclusion and eliminate caste discrimination.
According to the report,
“This legislation should impose duties and responsibilities on students, teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as the management of such institutions, and prescribe mechanisms for supervision, control, and sanctions for non-compliance with these directives.”
Additionally, the report mentions,
“The government must take steps to amend the existing Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, and insert a provision that a society intending to start an educational institution shall not include any caste appellations in their institution’s name.”
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Educational institutions, particularly those in regions with diverse religious populations, keenly observing the developments. If implemented, this proposal could set a precedent for other states to follow, potentially leading to a nationwide policy on the matter.
The Justice K Chandru Committee‘s recommendation highlights the ongoing debate between upholding secular values and respecting individual religious rights within public spaces. As discussions continue, the ultimate decision will likely reflect a balance between these two important principles.
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