The Madras High Court granted permission for an AIADMK functionary to retract a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) aimed at preventing school and college students from engaging in political activities. This decision came after the Tamil Nadu government informed the court about a circular issued on July 10, prohibiting political events in educational institutions.
A Division Bench, led by Chief Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan, acknowledged the state’s stance on barring political programs in schools. Consequently, the petitioner, an AIADMK official, requested to withdraw the case, which the Bench accepted, leading to the dismissal of the PIL.
Advocate General Vijay Narayan highlighted the state’s efforts to maintain educational institutions as apolitical spaces during the court proceedings. The Bench also observed that similar petitions addressing the same issue were already under consideration, questioning the necessity of multiple filings on identical matters.
The PIL, filed by AIADMK’s V.P.B. Paramasivam, alleged the involvement of students in political activities, diverting their focus from academics. It claimed that students were being coerced into participating in political events, including rallies and slogan-raising, which were unrelated to their educational pursuits. The petitioner argued that such practices infringed upon the constitutional rights of children, particularly those safeguarded under Articles 21A and 39(f) concerning education and welfare.
