The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has issued a directive mandating that the marks awarded by judges to individual children and groups during competitions held as part of the school arts festivals (Kalolsavam) be exhibited on stage via electronic display.

The commission also directed that money should not be collected from students from Classes I to VIII or their parents in the name of arts festivals. It observed that widespread collection of funds during conduct of the festivals from school to State level had come to its attention.

A full Bench of the commission comprising K.V. Manoj Kumar whose term as chairperson ended recently and members Mohankumar B., K.K. Shaju, and Wilson F. also directed that experts be included in the festival and the festival manual be revised.

The commission said the name and mobile phone number of the programme convener and committee members should be displayed during competitions in a manner that it is visible to contestants and the public.

Events at festivals in which differently abled students can take part should be categorised and arranged in classrooms and other facilities suited to them.

Guidelines should be prepared for selecting judges. When appointing judges, those on the Culture department’s panel should also be considered.

Names, educational qualification, and skills of judges should be displayed on screen at the time of events from sub-district to State-level so that students and the public know who the judges are.

Judges for sub-district and district competitions should be selected from a panel approved by the deputy director of education and Director of General Education, respectively.

It should be ensured that judges do not communicate between themselves using mobile phone, tablets, smart watches and so on till they finish judging an event.

Judges from other districts should be deployed for district-level competititions.

Orders of appeal committees should be made available within three days of the competition and in a clear manner. When considering appeals, the committee should compare the performances of the complainant and the event winner through video recording.

The commission directed the DGE, State Police Chief, and Public Works chief engineer to take steps to implement its directives during the conduct of the 2026-27 arts festivals.

Published - August 20, 2026 08:30 pm IST