Tamil Nadu - Madurai

High Court Bench censures Principal

MADURAI: The Madras High Court Bench here on Thursday censured the principal of District Institute of Education and Training at Ottanchatram in Dindigul district for summoning en masse the students and teachers of a private teacher training institute to his office on a working day in connection with certain shortfalls in their institute.

Justice S. Nagamuthu quashed the principal’s order while allowing a writ petition filed by the correspondent of Victory Teacher Training Institute at Kambilianpatti.

“I am unable to contain myself, except expressing my displeasure and to call the order as highly deplorable,” he said.

He also said: “I do not understand as to whether the third respondent has got any authority to pass such an order and assuming that he has got authority, whether there is any necessity for him to direct all the students of the institute and the teachers including the principal to appear before him on September 12, 2008.”

The Judge pointed out that the impugned order does not even state the purpose of summoning all of them to Ottachantram.

Students could not be held responsible for the infirmities which ought to have been rectified by taking course to appropriate legal action strictly in accordance with law.

“It is needless to say that the students have to concentrate in their education and attend their classes. Admittedly, September 12 was a working day. I do not again understanding for a moment as to how on a working day for the institute, the third respondent can direct the students to forgo their classes and come to his office en masse,” he added.

Mr. Justice Nagamuthu directed the principal of the district institute either to go in person, if so advised, or to depute some other officer to hold an enquiry, if required and then proceed in accordance with law.

“The third respondent is restrained from calling the students and teachers to appear before him at his office,” he observed.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu