'Sudden bag inspection in school'; High Court praises Palakkad school principal for appropriate action

KOCHI: The High Court lauded the efforts of a school principal in Palakkad, to conduct a quick inspection of school students' bags to see if they had mobile phones. Justice PV Kunhikrishnan praised the Principal of Palakkad Elappully Govt Higher Secondary School.

The investigation was based on suspicion that children were using phones inside the classroom. Pornographic images and videos were found in the WhatsApp group on a mobile phone found in a child's bag.

A complaint was also filed against Ajay Krishna (Nandu-24), who sent the explicit video and pictures to the mobile phone. Subsequently, the court considered Ajay Krishna's anticipatory bail application in the case registered by the Palakkad Town Police.

The court observed that the principal took the stern decision to report the case to the police even when faced with reluctance from other faculty members. The principal was also unwilling to blame the students.

“It would have been a wrong message if the complaint was filed against the children. The principal deserves praise for his appropriate intervention. “remarked the court.

Ajay Krishna was granted anticipatory bail as the charges against him carry a sentence of less than five years in prison. He must appear before the investigating officer within two weeks. If arrested, he must be released on a bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties of equal amount.