NEW DELHI (AFP): An Indian school principal Wednesday (Dec 20) defended suspending a male student for embracing a female classmate in "a long hug", vowing to uphold "decorum" even as his decision is challenged in court. The teenager appealed the decision and state authorities ordered he be allowed to finish his final year of high school. But last week St Thomas Central School successfully blocked that ruling in court - prompting a counter-challenge from the boy's parents who have accused school leaders of overstepping boundaries. But school principal Sebastian T Joseph defended his decision, saying the pair's behaviour was "the tip of the iceberg". The student accused the school of interfering in his "personal issues" and stripping his right to education and privacy.

Source: The Star December 20, 2017 11:37 UTC