The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Political, caste-based programmes should be banned in law college: court

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Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Political, caste-based programmes should be banned in law college: court

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Regulating admission of students through a Common Entrance Test, renovating the heritage college building and the men’s hostel, increasing the sanctioned strength of teaching faculty and improving the standard of legal education are to be made as long-term measures for the Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College here, the Madras High Court said on Monday.

There would be a governing body, under the leadership of the Chief Justice of the High Court, for the institution from 2009-2010 academic year. It would constantly supervise the running of the institution and improving the curriculum.

Passing interim orders on a batch of writ petitions pertaining to the incident at the law college here on November 12, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice A.K. Ganguly and Justice F.M. Ibrahim Kalifulla, said the short-term solutions which required immediate attention were appointment of lecturers on a temporary basis from among the retired faculties in order to ensure that all the four hours of classes were conducted without fail, roll call for students and attendance for teachers; photo identity cards for teachers, students and staff, tightening of security and closing down of the college canteen.

The Bench made it clear that all political and caste-based programmes should be banned and classes for three year and five year B.L. courses be conducted separately.

The semester examination should recommence on December 10. After the examinations, the college should reopen on January 19.

There should be a total ban on all political and caste-based propaganda inside the college campus. The Principal should suspend immediately any student for violation and impose necessary punishment proportionate to the nature of misconduct. There should be no display of placards, posters or any other display material inside or within the close vicinity of the college campus. The Bench said it was confident that leaders of political parties and other organisations would extend their full support in this regard.

Students should remember and realise there could be only one community i.e. student community. There could be no difference among themselves under any other pretext.

The Bench observed “It is our duty and responsibility to state that the judiciary will not tolerate any such unbecoming conduct of any student and for that matter any member of the society to indulge in such activities which will provide scope for division among student community/public at large, which will create an unhealthy atmosphere in any institution, educational or otherwise. It is needless to state that such incidents could not be allowed to recur in this institution and for that matter in any other institution in this State.”

It said none of the rules and regulations for students of the law college here seemed to have been implemented. Teachers had no control over students. There appeared to be a total lack of dedicated teachers.

The petitions have been posted for further hearing on February 2. The Bench directed the respondents to file their affidavits in the meantime.

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