HC notice over HIV+ students

The Kerala H C issues notices to a Primary School in Pampady, where five HIV+ children have been boycotted by fellow students, reports Ramesh Babu.

The Kerala High Court on Thursday issued notices to Mar Dionysius Lower Primary School in Pampady (Kottayam), where five HIV+ children have been boycotted by fellow students.

HT Image

The court heard a petition that was filed by Foundation for Integrated Mental Health, a Thrivananthapuram-based NGO.

Terming the boycott a blatant discrimination, the petitioner has sought that the school be directed to permit the five children to continue their studies. It also sought that the government frame a policy or law that prohibits educational institutions from discriminating against HIV+ children.

Even the National Human Rights Commission had recently sought a report from the state government.

The Hindustan Times had been the first to report the heart-rending story of these children - whose HIV+ status had been exposed by the local media - when the government-aided Mar Dionysius had sent them back in the first week of June.