All five accused in Shahabaz murder case pass Class 10 exams

Kochi: In a significant update to the Shahabaz murder case, Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty has announced that all five minors accused in the incident have passed their Class 10 board examinations.

This comes a day after the Kerala High Court criticised the state government for withholding their results.

On Tuesday, the court observed that the principle of reformation lies at the heart of criminal jurisprudence, especially when dealing with children in conflict with the law. The bench questioned the logic of allowing the accused to appear for the exams but then withholding their results. It warned that any deliberate delay could lead to accountability for the responsible officials.

Shahabaz, a Class 10 student from Kozhikode, died after being allegedly assaulted by his fellow tuition mates. The police have charged five minors with murder, wrongful restraint, unlawful assembly, and causing grievous hurt. The accused allegedly coordinated the attack through WhatsApp and Instagram. Shahabas succumbed to a fatal skull injury.

Despite being in judicial custody, all five students were permitted to sit for the SSLC (Class 10) board exams from detention. Minister Sivankutty confirmed their successful results on Wednesday.

The case has sparked debate over the rights of juveniles in conflict with the law and the responsibilities of the education system in upholding those rights.