Punishment for Surat school students who fought: Plant 10 trees each, nurture them for a year

A copy of the DEO’s letter, accessed by The Indian Express, states: “A quarrel erupted between two students of your school, in class 11 and 12, on September 16, during which the class 11 student beat the senior student with an iron rod on the head after the latter had teased him in school. According to the inquiry report conducted by the DEO inspector, it was confirmed that the incident did indeed occur, and the fathers of both students had reached a compromise. The parents of both students also gave written assurances to the school that they would not repeat such acts in future. The investigation officer (DEO inspector) mentioned in the report that the act demonstrated by the student indicates a violent mentality.”

The day after the incident, the victim’s parents, along with others, protested outside the school gate, demanding strict action and suspension of the accused student. The school principal called in the parents of both the students and it emerged that the two fathers were childhood friends who reunited after 25 years.

The letter further adds, “The students have violated rule number 18(d) of the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Act. Both students should be counselled by the school principal and authorities. They should plant ten trees each and also take care of them. This should be communicated to the parents of both students. Photos of the plantation and its growth should be taken by the school or students every three months, and after one year, the school principal must prepare a report attaching these photographs, and submit it to the Surat DEO office.”

Principal Vikash Pathak said, “We have received the letter and we will act accordingly. We have ample space in the school campus and we have asked our staff to bring 20 trees. We hope that seeing both these students taking care of the plantation daily, other students will also get motivated and they too will plant trees at their homes, or if they wish to plant them in the school campus, we will allow them.”