Students quit after school makes turbans compulsory

TURBANFUL OF TROUBLE: A Sikh school in Sangrur has imposed a new rule that forces its students to wear turbans.

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Cheema Mandi (Sangrur): Nearly a hundred families have stopped sending their children to school after it imposed a new rule that forces students to wear turbans in class.

The parents of the students at the Akal Academy in Sangrur are now planning to challenge the rule in court.

“We will not send our children to the school. There are about 100 of us and all of us are willing to take the matter to court,” a disgruntled parent, Kewal Krishan, said.

The Academy — a Sikh institution — recently made it compulsory for all students from Class VI to wear turbans. Nearly 20 per cent of the 1400 students are Hindu but the administration is intent on enforcing the rule, irrespective of religion.

“We will not compromise on our basic principles. It's an integral part of our school uniform. We will insist on it to maintain discipline,” Chief Co-ordinator, Akal Academy, R S Chhatwal, said.

Meanwhile, the Akal Academy is trying to play down the controversy, claiming that the number of students dropping out has been exaggerated