Kochi school may approach HC against ‘adverse’ findings in DDE’s report in Hijab row

St. Rita’s Public School in Kochi is likely to approach the Kerala High Court against the alleged adverse findings against the management in the report filed by Deputy Director of Education (DDE) in Ernakulam on the hijab row involving a Class VIII student.

Joshi Kaithavalappil, the president of the Parent Teacher Association, said that the management has entrusted its counsel to check the legal recourse to be adopted as the report had falsely claimed that the school authorities had stopped her from attending the classes after her parents insisted on wearing hijab.

“We have CCTV footage that will disprove the allegation. The report was prepared without including the version of the school authorities,” he said.

The school functioned normally on Thursday, though the student did not turn up on the campus for the second day citing health reasons. Her class teacher spoke with the parents and enquired about the reason for her absence, according to Mr. Kaithavalappil.

The Ernakulam unit of the CPI(M) on Thursday said that the issue has been resolved. The stance taken by the Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty, which was based on the fundamental rights of students and existing education rules, has gained acceptance.

The father of the student had also clarified that he did not wanted to create any more problems over the issue, it claimed. A release issued by the party accused the United Democratic Front of trying to reap benefits out of the controversy by trying to blame the government and the Minister for the developments.

Minister’s charge

Meanwhile, Mr. Sivankutty alleged in Thiruvananthapuram that there was a planned bid to politicise the hijab row.

The Minister who had alleged a bid by the school management to criticise the government despite the matter getting settled said the school management and their legal advisor were challenging the government.

It was the government’s duty to investigate a complaint. On the basis of the preliminary report submitted by the DDE, an explanation had been sought from the school authorities.

It was a legal measure. However, what followed was a deliberate bid to politicise the issue. The school management and their legal advisor were more keen on criticising the government. Their immature remarks had worsened the issue. This was not suited to an educational institution. Prime consideration should be for ensuring learning in a school and students’ future, he said.

The Minister stressed that a school should function according to the laws of the land. The General Education department had full right to intervene if anyone tried to violate Constitutional principles, court rulings, Right to Education Act, Kerala Education Act and Rules. It would exercise that right to protect public interests.

The government, he said, would take all legal measures necessary in the matter. “The government will not allow any attempt by the Congress or anyone to create a political or communal divide in the education sector in the State,” he said.

Mr. Sivankutty urged those concerned to desist from provocative moves that disrupted the peaceful atmosphere in the school.