The administration of a school in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama sacked two teachers because their “romance could adversely affect the students”, PTI reported. The couple said that the were dismissed from service on November 30, their wedding day.

Tariq Bhat and Sumaya Bashir worked at Pampore Muslim Educational Institute for several years. They were in a “romantic relationship” before getting married, the school’s chairperson Bashir Masoodi told the news agency. “It [their romance] is not good for the 2,000 students of the school and 200 staff members working there,” Masoodi said.

The couple claimed that their marriage was arranged. “Ours was an arranged marriage. We got engaged a few months ago,” Bhat said. “The entire school management knew about it as Sumaya hosted a party for the staff members soon after the engagement ceremony.”

Bhat questioned the administration’s decision to approve their leave requests for the wedding day. “If we were in a romantic relationship, did they come to know of it only after we announced our wedding plans?” Bhat asked. “We have not sinned or committed a crime,” the couple said.