The Madhya Pradesh High Court upheld a school’s decision to expel a student for posting communal and derogatory memes about teachers, observing that his actions reflected a repeated pattern of indiscipline and online misconduct.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
MADHYA PRADESH: In a judgment addressing student conduct and digital responsibility, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has upheld a private school’s decision to expel a Class IX student who posted communal and derogatory memes targeting his teachers on Instagram.
Justice Pranay Verma observed that the school in Indore acted within its rights in issuing a transfer certificate and refusing to allow the student to continue in Class X. The Court held that the student’s social media behavior amounted to gross indiscipline and could not be dismissed as a mere act of childish mischief.
ALSO READ: Denying Intimacy in Marriage: Divorce Under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, Explained
Background of the Case
The case arose after the school administration expelled a student for operating an Instagram page with two other classmates. The page contained offensive and communal memes, abusive comments, and posts mocking teachers.
The student’s father approached the High Court after the MP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights directed the school not to terminate his son’s enrolment. However, the school continued with the expulsion, prompting legal action.
The Court’s Finding
The High Court examined screenshots, chats, and Instagram posts submitted in a sealed cover. The findings painted a disturbing picture of systematic online bullying and religiously charged mockery directed at the teachers.
Justice Verma noted that:
“The conduct of the petitioner’s son has been of high indiscipline. He created memes of one of his teachers on religious lines with derogatory captions, using the teacher’s photograph without permission. The language used was abusive and communal in nature.”
The Court also pointed out other offensive content:
- A teacher is compared to a dog.
- A lady teacher depicted as Spiderwoman.
- Another was called the Iron Lady, and one was referred to as a “real male”.
- A teacher was mocked as a “Bitter Gourd” based on her appearance.
The Court remarked that such acts were wholly unacceptable and reflected a “revengeful, vulgar, and rebellious attitude.”
School’s Stand
The school maintained that despite the offensive posts, the students were allowed to complete their final examinations and were only expelled for the next academic year. No negative remarks were made on the transfer certificate.
It also highlighted that the student had a history of bullying, aggression, and insubordination, and that the memes were part of a pattern of misconduct rather than an isolated mistake.
Court’s Observations
Justice Verma held that the child rights commission’s directive to the school was only advisory, and the school was under no legal obligation to comply.
The Court rejected the father’s argument that his son’s behavior was a one-time lapse, observing:
“It shows a pattern of behavior. The posts reveal use of abusive language against the school and an attitude of revenge. Names of some girls from the school were also found in the chats, with suggestions to malign them.”
The Court also dismissed the apology letters submitted by the student and his father, calling them “qualified and not unequivocal.” It concluded that the boy was mature enough to understand the seriousness of his actions, and thus, forgiveness was not warranted.
Appearance:
Petitioner: Advocate Jayesh Gurnani
State: Advocate Amit Bhatia appeared
School: Advocate Tarang Chelawat
Case Title:
XXX v The State of Madhya Pradesh and Others
WRIT PETITION No. 22258 of 2025
Read Judgment: