Withdraw expulsion letter, SC tells school

Updated on: Friday, November 11, 2011

“I do not want my daughter to undergo the mental trauma once again. I will not send her back to the same school,” said Avisha Kulkarni, Adhishree Gopalkrishnan’s mother. The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the management of Vibgyor High School to withdraw the letter by which Adhishree was expelled on June 2, 2010. Kulkarni believes that shifting her daughter now, when she is in class X, will only inconvenience her, but she wished to have the letter withdrawn. She argued in person before the apex court that the letter was issued without following the natural principals of law and was harsh as the school had been paid the fees.

Adhishree was expelled a day before the school was to reopen, after her mother protested against it charging capitation fee. Adhishree finally got admission in a school in Chembur, but she lost four months of the academic year. Now, she travels every day from Goregaon, where she lives, to Chembur. “I do not want to disturb her studies as she is in class X. She anyway took a long time to settle in the new school,” said Kulkarni. “I want all parents to stand up against schools that charge exorbitant fees and think that they just do so. Justice has prevailed for my daughter and I am content now,” she added.

After Adhishree’s expulsion, Kulkarni moved the Bombay high court. In July 2010, by asking Adhishree to seek admission in another school, the court decided Kulkarni’s petition saying it was in the interest and welfare of the student. Kulkarni, however, moved the Supreme Court in August 2011.

Explaining the delay, she said, “My primary concern was to seek admission for my daughter in a new school and to help her settle there. She was in class IX, where missing four months of academics was not advisable. When I was convinced that she is settled in the new school, I moved the apex court.”

Kulkarni’s main prayer was asking the school to set aside the expulsion order. The SC bench of Justices R M Lodha and H L Gokhale disposed of the petition and ordered the school to withdraw the expulsion letter.

Withdraw expulsion letter, SC tells school

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