Kolkata:
An 11-year-old boy has won a battle against a 175-year-old institution: his school, Kolkata's best-known, La Martiniere for Boys.
The Supreme Court today told the school to re-admit the boy, expelled in March for failing twice in Class 4. The court also told the school to promote him to class 5. The school, which had challenged a high court order, says it will abide by the court order.
Srijan Banerjee has been away from school since April but, thanks to the Supreme Court, will now return to class 5 on Monday.
"I was really happy. I want to see my new friends and I want to play with them and for so many months I was sitting in the house. I was not feeling nice. Now I am very happy, says Srijan.
His mother says she's very relieved after today's judgement.
Srijan's troubles began in 2008 when his class teacher demanded a laptop to promote him. A nervous father gave a desktop but went to the police when the demands didn't stop and Srijan was detained in Class 4 twice and expelled. The teacher was sacked and prosecuted. But the family felt Srijan was being victimized because they had taken legal steps. Now, of course, all that is in the past.
"I think that school will support Srijan so that he can rebuild his lost confidence," says Partha Pratim Banerjee Srijan's father.
La Martiniere says it will abide by the court order, and that means for Srijan a 7-month long nightmare is over.