The last class he attended at medical school was in April 1996. Now, after nearly 15 years, he can finally go back to the classroom, and hopes to start his student life afresh.
Meet S.P. Kamalakannan (38) from Mannargudi Town in Thanjavur district who fought a 15-year-old court battle to rejoin Government Siddha Medical College in Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, from where he was dismissed during his second year following an allegation that he submitted a fake class XII improvement exam mark sheet for admission.
“A police case was filed against me in 1996 based on the allegation and a case went on at the Judicial Magistrate Court in Tirunelveli. After enquiring 13 witnesses and verifying 17 documents, the court acquitted me in the end of 2006,” says Mr. Kamalakannan, who made ends meet by working at a STD booth and provision store. He is married and has one child.
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Having proved his innocence, he then submitted a petition to the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University to permit him to continue his studies from the third year. The university authorities directed Mr. Kamalakannan to the Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy here.
“As the Magistrate court verdict did not say Kamalakannan should be readmitted in college, the Directorate declined his claim to rejoin college. Therefore, he filed a writ petition at the Madras High Court in 2007 praying that he be permitted to join the third year and pursue his medical education,” said Charles Muthusanthan, Mr. Kamalakannan's attorney.
Mr. Kamalakannan's 15-year-long struggle paid off on July 11, when the Madras High Court pronounced a verdict in his favour. “The Court directed Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University to permit him to rejoin Government Siddha Medical College in Palayamkottai and continue his studies,” added the attorney.
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Sources at the varsity state that there has been no precedent that could be followed in such a case. However, since the court has issued a directive, it had to be examined before further orders could be issued. As it is, there is no upper age limit to join any course run by the university or its affiliated institutions, they added.
Mr. Kamalakannan is thankful to his supportive family and university authorities who guided him in the journey to achieve his dream. He is all set to go back to campus and build the career he had longed for.