St Thomas Central School in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram has decided to reconsider its expulsion order against a Class 12 male student for hugging a junior female student, The New India Express reported on Friday. The school’s administration has sent a letter to the boy informing him about the development.

The school, however, has not responded to the girl’s request to revoke her suspension.

In a letter on December 20, the school has asked the boy to meet the principal on January 3 to discuss a way forward. “We have sent the boy a letter and a meeting will be convened to discuss the future course of action,” said Principal Sebastian T Joseph.

The administration has also sent a letter of recommendation to the Central Board of Secondary Education to permit the boy to answer his examination despite him failing to meet the attendance requirement. “I have strongly recommended the CBSE to condone his attendance shortfall and consider the case on sympathetic grounds and let him write the exams,” the principal said. “We do not want to spoil his one year.”

The boy had hugged the girl in front of other students during an arts festival on August 21. The two students later apologised to the vice principal. However, some time later, the photographs appeared on Instagram. The school then suspended the two students.

On December 17, the Kerala High Court upheld the decision of the school. In its order, Justice Shaji P Chaly 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 dismissed the boy’s contention that his Instagram account was private and that the school authorities had hacked into it, which was illegal.