A Dalit family in the Alappuzha district of Kerala has accused the principal and teachers of a government higher secondary school of caste-class discrimination against their identical twin sons, leading to a 75-day suspension.
Seventeen-year-old twins Rahul and Ajay, enrolled in the 11th and 12th grades, respectively, at Muhammadens Boys Higher Secondary School in Alappuzha, were suspended from July 12 until September 25, during which time they were barred from attending Onam exams.
The family, hailing from the Pulaya community, which is recognised as a Scheduled Caste, claims the suspension occurred without a proper inquiry or hearing.
According to them, the disciplinary action was based on false accusations by teachers who allegedly discriminated against the boys, with support from the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) president, a CPI(M) leader. The teachers are also close to the ruling party.
On September 25, the principal informed the family that a meeting convened by the Director of Public Instruction, the Joint Director (Academic) of the Department of Higher Secondary Education, along the Deputy Head of the Higher Secondary Department, had agreed to reinstate the students under a general understanding, subject to certain unspecified conditions.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.