The Judicial Committee of Damak Municipality, Jhapa, on Wednesday decided that child singer Ashok Darji must live with his parents.

Ashok and his two sisters had been living in the hostel of Bethal Education Academy in Urlabari, Morang, until the musician turned talent agent, Tanka Budathoki, took him off school 17 days ago.

Concerned by Ashok’s long spell of absence, the school  headmaster, Deepak Neupane, had filed an

application at the office of Damak Municipality-2 on Tuesday, asking the authorities to return him so that he could continue his education. Neupane had also charged Budathoki of deliberately keeping Ashok incommunicado.

Pursuant to the application, Budathoki  had appeared before Area Police Office in Damak along with Ashok’s father, Purna.

A meeting of the municipal Judicial Committee was convened where it was decided that the boy must live with his parents, Deputy Mayor Geeta Adhikari said on Wednesday.

Budathoki meanwhile dismissed the charges labelled against him by Neupane.

He said he had never intended to keep Ashok away from his parents.