The principal of a missionary school in India was arrested last Friday (19 August) for defying orders from the state government.
Complaints to the police alleged that he refused to hoist the national flag on Independence Day and did not observe the mourning period following the death of the country’s former prime minister.
The deputy superintendent of police claimed that it looked deliberate, but the principal claimed that it was simply “a mistake” not to hoist the flag.
Last Friday, India declared a public holiday for all public and private educational institutions and a seven-day national mourning period after the death of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi.
James Xavier, principal of Saint Eugene School however allegedly ignored the holiday and the national mourning, according to complaints from residents of the area.
Saint Eugene is a missionary-run school from kindergarten to class six and has about 300 students. The school is in a village about 8km from the district headquarters.
The police registered a case under the Prevention of Insult to National Honour (Amendment) Act 2005. The principal is currently released on bail following investigations, reported The Asian Age.
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