Photographer who exposed ‘vulgar’ girls’ uniform in Kerala school arrested

A school in Aruvithura, Kottayam, is in the firing line over its dress code for girl students. The design of the school uniform has not only triggered a huge controversy but it has also seen the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) to hold a protest on Tuesday seeking a withdrawal of the ''vulgar'' uniform design.

A photo of three girls wearing their school uniform in Kerala had gone viral on social media, with some calling it "vulgar". Following the uproar, the school management had even decided to change the overcoat in question for looking like innerwear.

However, the management of St Alphonsa Public School, Aruvithura, Kottayam (Kerala), has filed a complaint against photographer Bose Eapen who captured the photo. He is the owner of a studio named Gloria near the school. Erattupetta police have charged him under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and Bose has sought anticipatory bail.

Zachariah Pookunnam, a photographer who first posted the picture of the 'indecent' dress on social media, said he received the photo from a friend in Erattupetta, presumably Eapen. Terming it 'vulgar', Pookunnam had posted the picture of the school uniform on his Facebook page.

"This is just a baseless allegation against me and I see this as an attack against individual's right to speak. The situation has gone really worse as I cannot even face my relatives or friends," Eapen said.

Sr Rosily, the school principal, went on record to say that the photo had been photoshopped and it was not the uniform that was issued to the girls. The principal went on to say that the parents of the children studying there had not raised an issue until the alleged photo went viral.

Parents-Teachers Association president Sabu Cyraic said that there was no problem with the uniform and no parent had objected to it. Rather the uniform was based on a booklet that showed designs for uniforms. "Obscenity lies in the eyes of the beholder," Cyraic said.

Meanwhile, executives of the school's PTA, Sabu Poondikulam and Johnson Cheruvallil, said in an official statement, "It is decided to remove the small jacket from the uniform of girls from Std I to X. For girls of Classes VI to X, a new overcoat will be provided from the school. In the meantime, they are allowed to use the old uniform."