D'mello allegedly made 40 students, observing Ramzan fast, to stand outside school for 2 days
Principal of St. Agnes High School, Byculla, Louisa D'mello, had to face the fury of some parents on Monday. They shouted slogans against D'mello after she made around 40 students stand outside the school on Friday from 8.30 am till 3.30 pm.
D'mello so punished the students after many of the students did not attend school on July 9 (Thursday). According to parents, the children didn't turn up for school due to Badi Raat, a holy night observed by the Bohri community.
Parents got even more furious when they came to know that D'mello punished the students again on Monday and made them stand outside school till lunch break.
All the students were from the 8th to 10th standards. According to parents, some children, who could not bear the punishment, broke their fast.
Shakila Shaikh (name changed), a parent, said: "The school should have taken care of those children observing fast during ramzan. Parents sent notes in the school calender. Still it was not considered and the children were made to stand outside school under the hot sun."
Heena Khan (name changed), another patent, agreed. "We could have forgiven the principal for punishing our children on Friday. But we don't understand why she punished them again on Monday. This is why most parents had to come to meet the principal."
AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan wrote a letter to the principal, asking to send written apologies to parents as well as to him. The MLA has threatened to take legal action against the principal, if she failed to do so.
In a press statement, D'mello said as per the rules of discipline in the school, all absentees must get their school calendar signed by the principal before entering classes. "On July 10, there were quite a few students who were absent and they could not be accommodated on the corridor of the principals' office, where absentees usually stand for their signature.
"They stood outside the school building at their own choice. At that time, I was busy with 11th standard admissions. No staff member brought the incident to my notice. Frankly speaking, there was no malice involved. The girls concerned were of different religions. There were even a few Catholics. We treat all Agnesians equally.
"I do not accept responsibility for them breaking fast. We respect all religions. I do admit that I have not paid attention to the girls' presence outside in front of the school building. Whatever rumours have been spread in this regard are absolutely false."
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