They say India is a developing country. But what they conveniently forget to tell you is that we have still have a long way to go and possibly the biggest scope for change (read ramifications) even after 71 years of independence. Don’t mistake me for a cynic but the kind of misguided outrage we see today is proof that modern India is a concept that has translated into actions.

In fact, and I’m sorry to be the one to say this, but we are less tolerant than we used to be and selective nationalism and pseudo-liberalism is the root cause of many other problems our country is plagued with. If you’re wondering that my rant is a misguided one, let me tell you it is the result of a grave error. A misunderstanding that has ended up adversely affecting the lives of two minors in Kerela’s Thiruvananthapuram.

If you have missed the news, St Thomas Central School in Kerala expelled two Class XII students–a boy and a girl– because they hugged publicly in the school premises.

According to Indian Express, the boy hugged the girl after in front of other students during an arts festival held in the school on August 21 this year, after her impressive singing. Reportedly, a teacher had caught them in their ‘scandalous’ act and took them to the Vice-principal. The duo was suspended temporarily even after apologising, but that is not even the worst part.

Reports also state that the school went out on a limb and stalked the teenagers on Instagram to unearth ‘objectional pictures’, making grounds for expulsion. However, they were allowed to appear for the semester examination held in September.

The boy subsequently petitioned the child rights commission, stating that the school authorities are guilty of hacking his Instagram account but efforts turned futile when the school moved to Kerala High Court and it upheld the right to expel.

The bench of Justice Shaji P Chaly quashed the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights’ when he said, 

“I FIND THAT VARIOUS PHOTOGRAPHS WERE POSTED ON INSTAGRAM IN VARIOUS COMPROMISING POSITIONS, AND IF IT HAD THE EFFECT OF PUBLICITY, THE ISSUE HAMPERS THE REPUTATION OF THE SCHOOL.”

The court also maintained that the school was well within its limits in doing what it did to maintain discipline and that it was not illegal.

Needless to say, the incident and the ruling has irked the likes of many. And now, Shashi Tharoor who is an MP from Kerala has condemned the issue.

He took to Twitter to express his anger and angst saying that the matter reeks of ‘puritanical patriarchy’. And wrote, 

He further questioned what kind of society such regressive instances and ideal will produce.