Raiganj, Aug. 10: The expulsion of a 15-year-old girl from a school here because of underage marriage has triggered mixed reactions.

The subdivisional officer (SDO) of Raiganj, Ashok Das, has opposed the institution’s stand, saying the school had no authority to deprive the Class-IX girl her right to study.

A group of former students and residents of Durgapur, 18km from here, also demonstrated in front of Bhupal Chandra Vidyapith today to protest against the “harsh decision” of the school authorities. They demanded that Deepali Roy, who had got married in June, be taken back in school.

But with only five days left to register for the 2009 Madhyamik examinations with a late fine, there does not seem much hope for Deepali.

The headmaster of the school, Saroj Kumar Jha, said he had only executed the managing committee’s resolution, unanimously adopted in 2000. According to the resolution, girls who married before attaining the age of 18 would not be allowed to study in the school. So far six students have been expelled for the same reason.

“If Deepali wants to continue with her studies, we can try for her admission in some other institution, but not here,” the headmaster said.

Deepali, the youngest of four siblings, said she had almost abandoned her studies in Class VIII as her father, who lives at Trimohini, 125km, is very poor. One of her father’s friends then brought her to Durgapur and got her admitted to the school. She used to stay at his house and it was his son that she had got married to.

“I want to study. I was not aware of the law,” a sobbing Deepali said. She has appealed to the SDO and the district inspector of schools to consider her case.

Das said he has asked the headmaster to see that Deepali is allowed to fill up her form for Madhyamik. “The school cannot deprive a girl the scope to study just because she has got married.” The SDO refused to comment on whether he supported child marriage or not.

Local MLA and civil defence minister Srikumar Mukherjee said he supported the school “cent per cent”. “However, I shall talk to the administration to see that the girl gets a chance to sit for the examination from another school,” Mukherjee said.

Tushar Kanti Guha, the district president of the Chhatra Parishad, has threatened to shut down the school tomorrow if Deepali is not taken back.