The Madras High Court Bench here has given a last chance to a Class X student to mend his ways and turn over a new leaf in pursuit of a bright future after giving up the practice of stealing money and mobile phones from teachers, calling them with nicknames in front of other students, arguing with them, damaging school property and floating gangs to harass his classmates.
Disposing of a writ petition filed by his father, Justice M. Venugopal directed the principal of a private school in Thoothukudi district where he was considered to be “a headache” to permit the student to continue in the school until he completed higher secondary education without insisting on accepting the Transfer Certificate proposed to be issued and shifting him to some other school.
The judge said: “The petitioner’s son should be advised by the parents, teachers and others concerned. At this stage, this court quotes Swami Vivekananda who said that neither money pays, nor name pays, nor fame, nor learning; it is character that cleaves through adamantine walls of difference. Indeed, education is the anchor that holds life together through copper waters.”
The order added: “Viewed in the above perspective, this court opines that the petitioner’s son should turn a new leaf in pursuit of education. In case, the petitioner’s son continues to indulge in misconducts or misdeeds, it is open to the fourth respondent school to take stern action against him without showing any leniency and misplaced sympathy as per the rules and regulations applicable to such issues.” Though the petitioner had approached the court accusing the school of refusing to allow his son to continue because he scored only 6.8 out of 10 grade points in his Class X examinations, the principal filed a detailed counter affidavit explaining the misdeeds committed by the student on a number of occasions and letters of apology submitted by him and his parents.
