Court quash suspension of students in State House Girls fire plot case
Justice Nabil Orina ruled that while school authorities have a duty to act swiftly when faced with a credible security threat, disciplinary action must be based on facts connecting each student to the alleged misconduct.
The High Court has quashed the suspension of four students at State House Girls High School, ruling that fears of arson cannot justify collective punishment without evidence linking individual learners to alleged wrongdoing.
Justice Nabil Orina ruled that while school authorities have a duty to act swiftly when faced with a credible security threat, disciplinary action must be based on facts connecting each student to the alleged misconduct.
The four students, identified only by initials because they are minors, had challenged their suspension over an alleged plot to set the school on fire.
They were among 15 learners who had visited the school dispensary where an alleged discussion about setting parts of the institution ablaze reportedly took place.
The students were suspended on June 5, 2026, and ordered to appear before the school’s Board of Management with their parents on June 15.
The case arose after a student allegedly informed the school matron on June 4 that a group of learners was discussing plans to burn parts of the institution that night. The report allegedly identified a ringleader, a house and a section of a hostel used as a mattress store as possible targets.
An ad hoc disciplinary committee was subsequently formed to investigate the allegations. During the inquiry, school officials learnt that an unauthorised meeting had taken place at the dispensary. The school nurse provided a list of 15 students who had been there.
All 15 were questioned and statements taken before the principal suspended them pending further investigations and disciplinary proceedings.
The students challenged the decision, arguing that they had been punished collectively despite the absence of evidence showing their involvement in the alleged arson plan.
They also complained about being questioned late at night, with the process allegedly running into the early morning hours. Some claimed statements were discarded when they did not reflect what investigators expected.
Justice Orina said the seriousness of the security situation did not give school authorities unlimited disciplinary powers.
“Being at the dispensary when the discussion happened, without more, does not establish any basis for suspending the Applicants,” he ruled.
He added that suspending the entire group for the alleged misconduct of a few amounted to collective punishment.
The judge quashed the suspension letters dated June 5, while affirming that the school retained disciplinary powers that must be exercised lawfully, reasonably and on evidence linking individual learners to alleged misconduct.
