HC allows physical classes in violence-hit Kallakurichi school

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Wednesday granted permission to private school management in Kaniyamoor village of Kallakurichi district to reopen the physical classes for IXth to XIIth standard students on an experimental basis for one month. However, the court imposed several restrictions on the violence-affected school regarding the conduct of physical classes.

According to Justice R Suresh Kumar, the school management should not use blocks C and D which were severely damaged by the mob which protested and set fire to the building on July 17. The judge further made it clear that the third and fourth floors of A block should not be used for the physical classes as the hostel was functioning there.

The judge imposed these conditions after the State Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohammed Jinnah submitted that the CB-CID may require some three months for filing the charge sheet in the case.

It is noted that the school has been kept closed since July 17 after enormous violence broke out following a protest seeking justice for the death of a Class XII girl.

The victim girl’s father submitted through his counsel Sankarasubbu that the evidence is already destroyed in this case.

While granting permission to open the school on a probation basis, the judge observed that the relief was granted after considering the studies and future of the other students. “As the students have to appear for the public exam, the court has to consider their future and education, ” the judge observed.

Even though the school management sought permission to resume physical classes from LKG to XII citing the upcoming half-yearly examinations in the mid of December, the judge did not accept such a pleading.

Latha Educational Trust which is running the ECR and Sakthi Public schools in Kaniyamoor informed the court that it will start the classes for only day scholars and not for the hostellers. “The school strength has come down to 1500 from 3500,” the management’s counsel informed.

The matter has been posted to January 2.