Kerala: Metropolitan steps in to solve hugging row

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Under pressure from various quarters including national and international media, the Mar Thoma Church, which runs St. Thomas Central School here, took a lenient view of the hugging incident on the campus. Dr Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan, head of the Church, has asked the school authorities to allow the boy to write the model exam and also the CBSE board exams scheduled for March. He also directed the school to end confusion over the admission  of the girl, who has not given her transfer certificate from the previous school when she joined the St. Thomas  school in 11th standard.

A controversy had arisen over the incident in which the 12th standard boy hugged the girl on the campus on July 11 and the school took disciplinary action against both. Even BBC had reported the issue  affecting the school’s reputation.
“Joseph Metropolitan has asked the school management to show leniency to the two students who were expelled.  The affected parties have been called before the school inquiry committee on December 29,” said a source close to the  Church.

Though  the school has closed for Christmas holidays, the authorities have planned some  meetings in the next few days to resolve the matter.   The 17-year-old-boy and his parent have been asked to appear before principal Sebastian T. Joseph on January 3, a day prior to the model exams are scheduled to start.Although the girl doesn't want to continue her studies in the school, she wishes  to appear for the annual exam so that she doesn't lose a whole year. Mr Shashi Tharoor MP too had spoken to the management on her behalf. CBSE official spokeswoman Ms Rama Sharma told Deccan Chronicle on Friday that the CBSE headquarters in New Delhi would have to examine whether the school had submitted any formal request to allow the girl to write the examinations. A final decision would be taken soon, said Ms  Sharma.