Kerala Court Allows Prisoner to Keep His Long Hair for Acting Role

Kerala Prisoner Case: A unique legal battle unfolded in Kerala when a court allowed a prisoner to keep his long hair, which he wanted to maintain for a role in a Tamil film. The case involved a man, RS Jyothi, who had been arrested in a sexual assault case and was in judicial custody in Kollam District Jail.

The Incident

RS Jyothi, a 38-year-old man, had previously worked in Tamil films. He was arrested 13 days ago by the Kollam Railway Police based on a woman’s complaint that he had sexually assaulted her during a train journey. However, despite his legal troubles, Jyothi had been growing his hair for a role in an upcoming Tamil film.

While in jail, Kollam jail authorities asked him to cut his hair as part of the standard prison protocol for all inmates. However, Jyothi, determined not to lose the opportunity to act, resisted the haircut.

The Legal Battle

Unable to convince jail authorities to let him keep his hair, Jyothi turned to legal means for help. His wife hired a lawyer, and together they filed a petition with the Kerala High Court, asking for an exemption from the mandatory jail rule that requires prisoners to cut their hair.

The case was presented by lawyers Venu J Pillai, Vysakh V Nair, and S Sreejith.

The Court’s Decision

The petition was heard by Kollam Chief Judicial Magistrate, KV Naina. After reviewing the case, the magistrate ruled in Jyothi’s favor. The court issued an order preventing the jail authorities from cutting his hair, acknowledging that Jyothi should not miss his chance for the acting role. The magistrate noted that Jyothi had been growing his hair for the role, so he should be allowed to keep his neck-length hair.

The Jail’s Stand

The prosecution argued that the jail's annual guidelines require all prisoners to get a haircut, emphasizing the importance of maintaining uniformity and discipline. However, the court's decision overruled this, recognizing Jyothi’s unique circumstances.

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SUMMARY

A Kerala court allowed a prisoner, RS Jyothi, to keep his long hair despite prison rules requiring inmates to cut their hair. Jyothi, a 38-year-old man who had worked in Tamil movies, was arrested 13 days ago in a sexual assault case. He was growing his hair for a role in a film and didn't want to cut it while in jail.

After the jail authorities insisted on a haircut, Jyothi’s wife hired a lawyer to challenge the rule. A petition was filed in court, and Kollam Chief Judicial Magistrate KV Naina agreed with Jyothi’s request. The court allowed him to keep his neck-length hair, saying he shouldn’t miss the acting opportunity.

Although the jail had rules about haircuts, the court decided to make an exception for Jyothi. This decision highlights how personal circumstances can sometimes lead to standard prison rules changes.