Kerala teen suspended for hugging girl in school scores 91.2 percent in 12th exams

The boy and his classmate were suspended for close to 4 months for sharing a hug in the school premises.

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The Kerala teen who was unfairly suspended over hugging a classmate during an arts festival in 2017 has scored 91.2 percent in the commerce stream in the standard 12 CBSE boards this year.

The teenager, who studied at St Thomas Central School in Mukkolakkal, Thiruvananthapuram, was subject to severe moral policing following the incident. He had not been able to attend classes regularly for close to 4 months.

The boy and his classmate had been moral policed and suspended from their school for indiscipline - a long hug in the school premises and intimate photos in their private Instagram accounts. Despite the duo arguing that it was just a congratulatory hug as the girl had won a competition during the arts festival, the school refused to excuse them stating that it violated the rules.

After the school's decision to suspend the kids was first reported by The News Minute, it invited public outrage for the moral policing. The boy approached the Child Rights Commission who ordered the school to take the two students back. The school however, challenged this order in the Kerala High Court which stated that the school had powers to decide on disciplinary issues.

The students were later taken back and allowed to write exams after MP Shashi Tharoor met with school authorities and resolved the issue along with their parents. The two children were then invited to rejoin classes and the boy was allowed to appear for his class 12 board exams this year. They rejoined the school in January this year, post the winter vacation.

The boy scored an 87 in English, 99 in Economics, 90 in Business Studies, 88 in Accountancy and 92 in Psychology.

His mother in fact sent a message to TNM as soon as the results came in.

"Hi Dhanya, today his 12th CBSE result came, he got 91.2 %, thank you once again for the support, without which he could not have achieved this." A small note from the mother of the boy who was suspended by a Tvm school for hugging a girl. Days you feel happy being a journalist.
— Dhanya Rajendran (@dhanyarajendran) May 26, 2018