The Hindu : Charges false, says another group of parents

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 18, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Charges false, says another group of parents

By K.T. Sangameswaran and K. Manikandan

Photo: K. Pichumani

A section of parents of the students of the Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School Chennai, leaving to present a memorandam to the SHRC on Tuesday.

CHENNAI JUNE 17. A day after the parents of Ramu Abhinav, standard X student of the Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Mogappair here, who committed suicide, and others complained to the State Human Rights Commission about corporal punishment meted out to pupils there, another group of parents petitioned the SHRC denying the allegations.

The parents, who came to the Commission office today, alleged that some persons set afloat rumours, tarnishing the image of the institution and creating apprehensions in the minds of pupils.

Nearly 135 parents, in a petition, said the school had been functioning well ever since its inception in 1986. Students belonging to weaker sections joined there and had been securing high marks in examinations. Without expecting anything in return, the school conducted coaching classes for below average students from 5 to 9 pm. so that they could also perform well in examinations. Its objective was that pupils should turn out to be good citizens and should be disciplined and patriotic.

No student was being brutally beaten up or confined to a `cell', the parents said.

They individually told the Commission member, S. Sambandham, that none of their wards ever complained of brutal treatment by teachers. The staff, on the other hand, took extra efforts to give proper coaching to the students. The school insisted on discipline and there was nothing wrong about it. Several students who studied there were now well settled in life. The institution charged lesser fees than what was collected in other schools — a boon to weaker sections.

One of the parents asked why those who complained of corporal punishment did not obtain transfer certificates and admit their wards to other institutions. Another parent said Abhinav's mother herself was a teacher in the Vellammal school for five years.

A teacher said the management's first instruction to the staff was that they should never wield the cane.

While expressing sympathies over the tragic incident (Abhinav's suicide), a parent said the cause of the death had not been fully ascertained. Yet, baseless allegations were being levelled against the institution.

When Mr. Sambandham wanted to know how the parents reached the SHRC office, one said they came by vans, while others said they took their own transport.

Meanwhile, SHRC investigators inspected the school premises and recorded statements from teachers and authorities. Responding to a specific question, Inspector P.K. Kamil Basha told reporters that he would visit the premises in the wake of complaints from former students and parents about the `dark room'. During his inquiries, school authorities denied the existence of any such room, the inspector said.

Drama at school entrance

A drama of sorts was witnessed near the school entrance, where reporters had gathered this morning. A section of parents came out of the premises and before boarding over a dozen vans to go to the SHRC office in the city, began to argue with the reporters. They charged that the "news coverage of the death of Abhinav was not fair".

Even as the reporters began to leave, more than 50 boys and girls insisted that the Press listen to them. Prodded by one of their teachers, who asked them to move closer to the reporters, the students said their teachers were never harsh to them.

The chairman, M.V. Muthuramalingam said so far they had been "at the receiving end". The management was also pained at the death of the boy, he said and added pressure could have come even from the parents. When it was pointed out that so many parents and students were now beginning to complain, he said the allegations were false and that he could "produce 20,000 others who can speak in favour of us."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Varsity shocked at Ignacimuthu decision

Charges false, says another group of parents

Transfer of police officers raises eyebrows

Coimbatore court summons Karunanidhi

T.N. urged to revamp women's commission

Exporters express concern over `non-tariff barrier'

Swamy moves HC against denial of recognition for police association

Rice stocks more than enough to meet PDS supply

Failure to enforce rules cause of water source depletion

I've not quit: Balakrishnan

Identification parade in Madurai prison

Janata Party to observe anti-corruption day