The convention assembled at the Sector-4 petrol pump and then moved to the school as there were prohibitory orders under Section 144 in place in the city. Earlier the procession was to assemble at the complainant’s house in Sector 19.

“We are law-abiding citizens and did not want to break the law by holding the rally anywhere else, hence it was held inside the school,” said a parent.

The students carried placards citing their faith in the school and its teachers. “I was Michael sir’s student for a decade and not once did he indulge in such wrong activities. He is being framed to settle a personal score,” said Aakash, an alumnus.

“The parents wanted their sons to be given prominence in the school album that will be taken out shortly. As Michael refused to comply with the demands, he is now being trapped in such allegations,” said Vibhav, another student.

A parent, Rajesh Bansal, who passed out of St John’s in 1982 and whose son is now a student in the school said, “In the recent past, there have been a series of attempts to tarnish the image of the institution. We have gathered here to emphasise that all of us hold St John’s in high esteem and fully appreciate and understand its values, ethics and traditions.”