Want to Take Exam, Not Lose Year: Kerala Student Expelled for Hug

In an exclusive interview to The Quint, the Principal justified why the school was right in suspending the boy.

Two teenagers were expelled from a Kerala school after they exchanged a hug.

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

A teenage girl performs a western music number on stage. A teenage boy hugs her to congratulate her on her singing.

Little did the two know that the congratulatory hug could lead to a suspension and potential dismissal from school.

The minor boy, who is in class 12 and due to give his board exams said that he hugged his friend for just a 3-5 seconds while there were other people around, as ANI reported.

I just hugged her for 3-5 seconds. A teacher walked past us, started shouting and took us to the Vice Principal. I was told to apologise and I did. But the teachers gave the friendly hug a sexual turn. They called my parents for the Board meeting next day. School’s secretary used sexual slurs in front of my parents while describing the situation. I was served a suspension letter 50 days after the incident. I want to write my exams and not lose a year.

In St Thomas Central School in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, this action of 'hugging' isn't part of Indian culture – and the faculty believe it is their duty to 'reform children'.

He has hugged a girl. And it is not in our Indian custom that a girl and a boy hug for a prolonged period. That is not acceptable on our campus.

Sebastian T Joseph, Principal, St Thomas Central School to <b>The Quint</b>

The hug also apparently lasted for 5 minutes, as the principal told ANI.

It was longer than a congratulatory hug and was witnessed by teachers. During inquiry it was found that he was guilty. His parents also didn’t co-operate and approached High Court. He had also posted some indecent pictures of both of them on Instagram.

Students Scolded For ‘Bad Conduct’, Parents Summoned

The incident took place after a teacher saw the two hugging and took them to the Vice Principal’s office. They were scolded for their bad conduct and told to write apology letters. The story didn't end just there.

The boy's father allegedly said that the class teacher, who was not very fond of his boy because of his 'hyperactive attitude and for being the one asking a lot of questions to the teacher,' escalated the issue.

The father was summoned to school on 24 July by Rajan Verghese, the secretary of the Mar Thoma Educational Society.

We were taken to the secretary’s room and I was shocked at the way he behaved with my son. He abused him and even called my son a <i>vithukala</i> (bull in heat). He said it would be better to not have a boy like this than bring him up this way. He also said my son should be punished like a godman who had been castrated in Thiruvananthapuram (for alleged rape).

The boy’s father to <b>The Quint</b>

His parents were then shown 'evidence.'

Private Instagram Photos Unlocked?

The principal showed the parents a set of pictures that Rahul had posted on his private Instagram account. These personal pictures of the two teenagers were described by the school as ‘indecent, scandalous, highly objectionable'.

He himself has published on Instagram several intimate pictures of him and the girl, and it came to our notice. We didn’t access it or hack it but received the pictures from the parents and students. Over 800 people had liked these pictures, and this is not acceptable.

Sebastian T Joseph, Principal, St Thomas Central School to <b>The Quint</b>

The boy's father clarified that they were well aware that the two were “very good friends” – and all the pictures were taken in a friendly gesture. He added that it was unfair for the school to defame them.

How can the Principal arrange for such evidence? He even had taken printouts of all the pictures and even had screenshots on his phone!

The boy’s father to <b>The Quint</b>

The Principal, however, brushed aside these allegations saying the parents were after all trying to defend their children. When questioned that these pictures were taken outside the school campus and can be viewed by only a restricted audience, the Principal spoke very sternly saying irrespective of whether it happened on campus or outside, it is their duty to reform the children as they could damage the reputation of the institution.

Dismissed on Moral Grounds, Education Hampered

An inquiry commission was constituted by the school which ruled that the teens had 'not conformed to the discipline and moral values intended to be upheld by the students of the school', and so shall be dismissed.

Worried that this could affect the boy's future as he is just a few months away from his XII board exams, his father approached the Child Rights Commission.

The Child Rights Commission gave an interim order on 4 October saying the incident should not hamper the student’s education, and so he should be allowed to attend school. But when the father went to school with the order the next day, the authorities failed to acknowledge it.

The school, unwilling to accept the Child Rights Commission’s interim order, approached the Kerala High Court with a writ petition detailing the 'prolonged hug' and the offensive Instagram posts that were not in line with the school’s discipline.

The High Court ruled in favour of the school.

You haven’t seen the pictures. . .only then you will understand if it is derogatory or not? Don’t you think the High Court will gratify our decision without sufficient evidence?&nbsp;

Sebastian T Joseph, Principal, St Thomas Central School to <b>The Quint</b>

The Principal added that it is now up to the Central Board of Secondary Education to decide whether the boy can write the upcoming board exams, and if yes, they are willing to allow him to write the exams.

The boy’s father isn't willing to take it lying down. He has quit his job, submitted another petition and is currently at home giving moral confidence to his son.

He is making sure the boy doesn't lose his heart to achieve and pursue his dreams of becoming a lawyer because of a 'prolonged hug'.