Kerala hugging row: Shashi Tharoor's mediation makes school soften stand; students allowed to write exam

Faced with stiff criticism, the management of St Thomas Central School, Mukkolakkal, on Friday decided to revoke the disciplinary action initiated against two students for hugging on the school campus
Image used for representational purpose.
Image used for representational purpose.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Faced with stiff criticism, the management of St Thomas Central School, Mukkolakkal, on Friday decided to revoke the disciplinary action initiated against two students for hugging on the school campus.  

The school will let the students write the final examination. The decision was taken at a meeting attended by the students, their parents and the management.  The meeting, convened under the initiative of Shashi Tharoor MP, was held at the Government Guest House, Thycaud.  Tharoor met the school management and students separately and held discussions with both the parties. Briefing the media, Tharoor said the issue had more or less been sorted out. 

“I can finally write the examination and that is what I have been fighting for. I am glad they have let us both write the final examination. There are still two more months left for the board examination and that will do for preparations,” said the Class 12 male student who is gearing up to crack CLAT as well. The Class 12 student and a Class 11 girl student had earlier been expelled by the management for hugging after a school function.

The decision to expel the students had attracted flak from different quarters, including the school alumni. Shashi Tharoor had earlier condemned the school’s stand in a tweet. It was following his involvement that the management decided to soften its stand.

Four personnel from the management side, including Mar Thoma Educational Society secretary Rajan Varghese, principal Sebastian T Joseph and the school’s advocate attended the meeting. “Whatever Shashi Tharoor has said is applicable to both the parties. We go by his stand,” said Joseph. ​

“The meeting ended on a good note and the management has promised that my son will be allowed to write the board examination and that the girl student will also be inducted into the school,” said the father of the Class 12 student. He said they would appeal to the High Court to expunge the remarks made by the court against the student in its judgment. “Our only concern is the remark as we have to get it removed. Else he will remain a tainted figure,” he said. 

It is understood that the girl student has also been called for a meeting on January 3.

Earlier the school had softened its stand towards the boy and sent a letter to him on December 20. However, at that time the school had failed to address the girl’s issue. 

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