Kerala State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights on Monday sought a report from the General Education Department secretary on the reasons that led to the unprecedented ban of two schools from participating in this year's Kerala State Schools' Sports Meet. The two debarred schools were Mar Basil Higher Secondary School, Kothamangalam and Navamukunda HSS, Thirunavaya.

Based on media reports, the Child Rights Commission Chairperson KV Manoj Kumar took up the case suo motu. On the face of it, the Commission feels that the decision had violated the fundamental rights of children. The Commission has asked the General Education secretary and director to submit the report in 15 days.

It is also widely felt that the ban was a disproportionate official response to the protests staged by the students at the closing ceremony of last year's Kerala State Schools' Sports Meet at the Maharaja's College ground in Ernakulam on November 11. The ban could sabotage the prospects of many young talents in these two schools.  

The provocation for the protest was the declaration of G V Raja Sports School, Thiruvananthapuram, as the runner-up in the overall champions category. This was the first time that the points of a sports division school like G V Raja were considered along with general schools for the overall championship.

The changed points system was not announced in advance and was revealed only on the final day. In fact, right from the start of the sports meet, the organisers had published the point tables of general and sports division schools separately on the official website. However, when the final result was declared, the differentiation was scrapped, and all schools were assessed together.  

Consequently, the general schools that were placed second and third until the last day—Navamukunda and Mar Basil—were pushed down to third and fourth positions. (Ideal English Higher Secondary School Thavanur, Malappuram, with 80 points, was the overall champions.) 

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The students of the two schools that lost out staged a spirited protest near the venue where the concluding ceremony was held and the police had to intervene.

The Mar Basil school, one of the banned schools, had produced two Olympians and 25 sportspersons of national repute. Navamukunda had to face action on the very year the school made its presence felt for the first time with 18 medals. The ban will prevent students in both these schools from participating in any of the sports meets lined up for this year, right from the sub-district level to national school sports events. This will also affect the grace marks of students appearing for the SSLC and Plus Two examinations this year. 

The decision to ban the schools were based on the report of a three-member committee appointed to probe into the issue. The report had also recommended disciplinary action against certain teachers of both these schools.

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