Bengaluru: Two brothers studying in St Joseph’s Indian High school on Vittal Mallya Road and staying at the boarding hostel run by the school were subjected to corporal punishment.

The hostel warden allegedly tonsured the elder brother for not attending the classes regularly, while the younger one’s head was shaved next day after the elder brother left the hostel without informing the authorities. The school management has, however, told the police that tonsuring was done because they were infected with lice.

Following the incident, their father, Sebastian Augustine, filed a complaint with the Cubbon Park police against the school authorities. The police are consulting legal experts to take the case forward.

Police said Augustine had stated in his complaint that hostel warden Brother Kiran tonsured his elder son Francis Sebastian, a grade 10 student, on January 28, citing that he was not attending the classes regularly. Francis felt humiliated and returned home. The next day, he received a call from his younger son Charles Sebastian, a grade 9 student, that his head was also shaved off as Francis had left the hostel without permission.

Augustine alleged that when he enquired with the school management, he was reportedly told that his sons were infected with lice and they were tonsured to maintain hygiene.

“Recently my sons had a haircut when they visited home. Even if they were infected with lice, the school authorities could have informed me. This is not the way to deal with it,” he said.

Further he said that his elder son had told him that the warden was very strict. “He had also told me that the warden had tonsured many other students to punish them,” Augustine said.

DCP (Central) Sandeep Patil said Cubbon Park police have taken up the case. Meanwhile Fr. Anil D’Mello, head of the school, said, “Recently, three students of the school had gone to Velankani Feast and they were infected with lice. Augustine’s sons and five other students were also infected with lice and dandruff. Thus, other students were hesitating to sit next to them and so eight students’ heads were tonsured. Parents should not take it as corporal punishment.”