Troublesome students could well find themselves in a lot of trouble in schools. This disturbing fact was brought to light in a complaint lodged with the fourth additional district consumer disputes redressal forum in the city.

The parents of a Class 9 student in a city school had alleged their son was treated very badly for alleged homosexuality and for his troublesome nature. The school even demanded money from the parents to issue a Transfer Certificate for the boy stating that it spent additional money to appoint a special teacher for him. However, the forum has directed the school to cough up Rs 5,000 as compensation and refund admission fee of Rs 15,000.

In his complaint to the forum, Mr Sanjay (name changed), a resident of Horamavu, said his son Vinay (name changed) was admitted to St George High School at Anagalapura village in the academic year 2011-12 as a hostel inmate. But, a few days after admission, Mr Sanjay received a call from the school saying the principal wanted to meet him urgently. Mr Sanjay rushed to the school where he saw that his son had been made to sit in the corridor and he was not allowed to write his exams.

When he spoke to the principal, he was told that Vinay had fought with some of the hostel students and the warden, Mr Fabin, had locked up Vinay in a dark room and the boy was scared when they spoke to him. The principal stated that they will not be able to take care of the boy in the hostel and asked Mr Sanjay to take his son back home along with his belongings.

Later, as per the instruction of the school authorities, Mr Sanjay started sending his son to school in the school van. A few days later, Mr Sanjay received another call from the school and was informed that Vinay was not attentive in class and was suggested to have a separate teacher or take him back home.

Left with no option, the parents agreed to have a separate teacher for their son. The school then directed the parents to pay Rs 7,000 as advance to the special teacher. But, as the parents could not pay the money in time, Vinay was sent out of the classroom and made to sit in the school bus till evening. Since the school authorities did not give them more time to pay the money, the parents requested the school to issue a Transfer certificate (TC) for their son. But the school authorities demanded excess amount and declined to give the TC, the complaint said.

In their reply, the school authorities justified their stand saying that even from the time of admission, Vinay was a troublesome child who needed special care and accordingly, a special tuition and care was arranged for. “Vinay fought with an 8th standard student and, as a result, she had to undergo a minor surgery. Mr Sanjay still owes the tuition fee towards the special teacher. The allegation that the child was kept in a dark room is imaginary.

The fact is that the child was an utterly troublesome boy in class and in the hostel. In consultation with the principal, the warden gave him a single room to save other hostel inmates, the action was taken when Vinay was trying to subject other students to homosexuality. Vinay has not been terminated from the rolls, but he remained continuously absent from 10-10-2012. Neither the student nor the parents have demanded for the transfer certificate and the management has never declined to issue the transfer certificate or demanded any extra money. The management is only happy to issue TC against the payment of special tuition fee arrears towards Mrs Swathy Mary,” the school authorities informed the forum.