TRIVANDRUM: A school in Kerala which grabbed wide media attention after expelling a boy and a girl for hugging in public has reversed its decision thanks to Dr Shashi Tharoor MP.

“We signed an agreement today. Hopefully, everything will turn out for the best,” said the boy’s father, who was planning to move the High Court after the Christmas vacation against its verdict overruling the Kerala State Child Rights Commission (KSCRC) order to take the children back.

The city’s prestigious St Thomas Central School kept the students out since the boy was found hugging the girl in public on July 21, which they say was to congratulate her after she sang in a competition on the campus.

An enquiry commission after five sittings found them guilty of “indecent, scandalous and indisciplined (sic) public display of affection” and the school dismissed them forever last month.

Last week, Dr Tharoor held separate talks with the two sides after which the school agreed to take them back on the condition that they would withdraw their complaint to the KSCRC.

The girl had just started attending the school after her 10th grade in Dubai, and her documentation was not completed while the boy was into his 12th grade.

The school will now formally admit the girl and allow the boy to complete his studies and take final exams of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in March.

On Nov 22, the principal issued dismissal order against the boy and rejected the girl’s application for regularising her admission, which the KSCRC overturned.

Against this, the school approached the High Court which on Dec.12 quashed the order and upheld the rights of the school authorities to “maintain and sustain the standard and reputation of the school.” “Puritanical patriarchy run rampant,” Dr Tharoor, who was the only leader to stand by the students before the issue hit the headlines, including on the BBC, had tweeted on Dec.17.

“By sexualising innocent affection between friends and fellow students, we are creating self-conscious hypocrites trained to suppress their feelings. And in this case, damaging a student’s academic career. I’m appalled.”

After the meetings on Friday, he tweeted: “Let’s wait till everything is settled. Though we have made good progress, I am not keen on premature celebrations.”