Govt’s guidelines on students and public events

Based on the Madras High Court order restraining the state government and the School Education authorities from bringing school children to attend MGR centenary public meetings, the state government has come up with guidelines to regulate the attendance of students in events including public functions, rallies and exhibitions at venues outside schools.

Passing a Government Order (GO) to this effect, the guidelines dwell on the do’s and don’ts while taking the students out. The don’ts included not taking the students to events that is meant to further any political motive; shall not be made to greet leaders enroute or at the venue and shall not be made to come to the venue more than an hour before the start of the event. The don’ts also insists that students participation should not be allowed during holidays except on certain days of national and state importance.The HC order directing the state to frame the guidelines was based on a PIL moved by Change India represented by its Director A Narayanan, citing the harassment meted out to the students during the MGR centenary celebrations.