The Kerala High Court, on May 20, questioned the State government about the delay in announcing the Class 10 results of students allegedly involved in the murder of 15-year-old Shahabas. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas expressed serious concern over the denial of examination results to the children, despite them having appeared for the exams.
“How can you delay or deny publishing results?... Why should they even have to move the Child Rights Commission? Under what authority are you refusing to publish the results? Publishing the results is totally different from the offence committed by them. If they have written the examination, the results have to be published,”
— Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas
The tragic incident involves Shahabas, a Class 10 student, who was allegedly attacked by his fellow tuition mates. According to reports, five students have been charged in connection with the murder. The police say the accused had created WhatsApp and Instagram groups to plan the attack. Shahabas died due to a serious skull fracture.
Advocate K. M. Firoz, representing one of the juveniles, informed the Court that the children's exam results had not been released, even though the Child Rights Commission had directed the authorities to publish them. He argued that the government's refusal was unjustified and based on the claim that the Commission's direction was only “recommendatory.”
The urgency of the matter was highlighted by the fact that the deadline to apply for Plus-One admission through the single-window portal was ending that very day. The lawyer stressed that withholding results would severely affect the students' future academic opportunities.
“The whole concept of a criminal jurisprudence is reformation. Especially, when a child in conflict with law commits a crime, can you debar him from writing an examination? And after he has written the examination, can you withhold the results?”
— Kerala High Court observed
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The High Court was hearing a bail application in this case. While addressing the matter, the Court remarked that the issue of non-publication of results falls under the domain of the Child Rights Commission's order. If the authorities had ignored the Commission’s directive, then the affected parties would need to approach the High Court seeking enforcement.
Furthermore, the Court warned that if the delay in publishing the results was found to be intentional, then those responsible would face consequences.
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“Your officers who have not published the results despite this order have to be held responsible if it is a purposeful delay in publishing,”
— Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas
The Court scheduled the next hearing on the bail plea for the following day.
Case Title: XX v State of Kerala
Case No.: BA 6291/2025
