The Madras High Court has ordered notice of admission on a writ petition by the mother of an engineering student seeking a direction to the engineering college in Anna University, Guindy here to award her daughter the prizes as assured in an inter-collegiate cultural festival held in February this year.
The petitioner, Lakshmi Suresh of R.A. Puram said her daughter, P.S. Akshaya, who was studying first year B.E. course in Sathyabama University was invited for ‘TECHOFES’ 13.’ The festival was being conducted since 1948. The authorities had advertised the total prizes and the best of the festival events were variety show, choreo nite and Mr and Ms.TECHOFES’13.
The petitioner said her daughter participated in several events, particularly Mr and Ms. TECHOFES’ 13, the prizes for which were a two-wheeler, cash prize and several gift vouchers. She won that competition, but was not given the prize as advertised, except a certificate of appreciation. The student sent an e-mail expressing her disappointment. The petitioner said she issued a lawyer’s notice in March. There was no reply. Hence, the present writ petition for a direction to the Dean of the engineering college, Guindy, among others to give the prizes as assured to her daughter and a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh.
Justice K.K.Sasidharan said that the notice would be returnable by August 22.
