Shahabas Murder Case: Kerala High Court Seeks Govt's Response On Father's Plea To Prevent Accused Children From Writing Class 10 Exam

The Kerala High Court on Monday (10th March) gave further time to the State government to file its response to the petition filed by father of Shahabas, a class 10 student who was allegedly attacked by his tuition fellows in Kozhikkode, leading to his death.Shahabas' father Muhammed Iqbal seeks to prevent the accused children from writing the 10th SSLC examination, scheduled between March 03 to March 27.Last week, the Court had granted one week's time to the Public Prosecutor to seek instructions in the matter. Justice C. Jayachandran extended the time by one more week on PP's request.Five children have been booked for attacking Shahabas with nunchaku over a dispute regarding farewell function held at the tuition centre. It is said that the accused created Instagram and WhatsApp groups to discuss and decide how to attack Shahabas. He died due to a fracture on his skull.The quintet has been booked under Sections 103(1) (murder), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 189 (unlawful assembly), 191(2), 191(3) (rioting), 118(2) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt) and 190 of BNS and their bail applications were dismissed by the Juvenile Justice Board. They are currently lodged at an Observation Home and the Superintendent of the Home has been asked to take steps to enable them to write their SSLC examination.Iqbal argues that the JJB order was passed without conducting any inquiry or assessing the physical and mental capacity of the children. He contends that the Board failed to consider that the school was the very place where they allegedly planned the attack and thus, fellow students will be affected by their presence. Reportedly, the children have already given some exams in a specially arranged exam centre at the Observation Home. Iqbal submitted that he suspects undue influence and favouritism, seeing the swift intervention of the educational authorities in facilitating the examination at the Observation Home. The father further submitted that the JJB should also protect the right of the deceased child who would have been writing the exam, had the incident not happened.The case is next posted on 19th March.Case Title: Muhammed Iqbal v State of Kerala and OthersCase No: Crl.MC 2327 of 2025

Shahabas Murder Case: Kerala High Court Seeks Govt's Response On Father's Plea To Prevent Accused Children From Writing Class 10 Exam

Manju Elsa Isac

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