A Madras High Court Bench of Justice RMT. Teekaa Raman has directed four students to clean classrooms and write on Gandhi, Kamaraj and Kalam as conditions for anticipatory bail.

Senior Counsel A Ramesh and Counsel C Iyyapparaj appeared for the petitioners, while Government Advocate Arul Joseph Selvam appeared for the respondents.

In this case, the Madras High Court was hearing an anticipatory bail application in a case registered under Sections 147, 148, 447, 294(b), 323, 324 of IPC and Section 3(2) of Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act.

The case stemmed an incident occurred during a retreat function at Montfort Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in Yercaud on 06.08.2023. A rivalry emerged between the 12th-grade students and the 10th-grade students regarding whose song should be played first. This disagreement escalated, resulting in a physical altercation. The 12th-grade students trespassed into the hostel area of the 10th-grade students, leading to a verbal argument.

All the petitioners and other accused individuals entered the school premises without obtaining permission. They assaulted the watchman and disrupted a classroom while a class was in session.

On hearing the submissions the Court observed that, "School is situs for transformation of personality traits and for reformation via love and disciple. Education is a platform for acquisition of knowledge, as knowledge is power. The concept of "uniform, as, dress code", noval idea as envisaged by Thiru K.Kamraj, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was aimed at exclusion of exclusivity of economical variation amongst students; who took the education to the masses and rendered unparalleled educational services. Forget not, He, the great leader had no formal education, due to family circumstances. It appears that "on-line education" has failed, in all front, to incalculate “value based education”, which is a hallmark for human evolution."

Accordingly, the Court ordered that all the petitioners be released on bail in the event of arrest and laid down the following conditions:

(a) all the petitioners are required to appear before the Head Master of the Montfort Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Yercaud and each of the petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.1000/- ;

(b) to clean and keep the classrooms (not less than 4 class room for each person) clean including black board, table, bench and the floor for a week and also

(c) spend time in the school library and e-library to prepare notes by handwritten (not less than four pages) on -

(i) non-violation from excerpts of Mahatma Gandhi

(ii) educational schemes promoted by the former Chief Minister Mr.K.Kamraj and

(iii) dream and vision of Dr.Abdul Kalam.

(d) Such articles prepared by all the four students in the above topics have to be handed over to the School Principal with a direction to the School Principal to host the said articles in the school website for one year.

(e) Care should be exercised for, the petitioners shall not make cut – copy – paste from google.

(f) Each of the petitioners shall deposit a sum of Rs.2,000/- to the school (Montfort Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Yercaud) account, on or before 10.10.2023.

(g) On such competition, the said School Principal shall report the compliance of the above stated conditions to this Court.

Cause Title: Selva Muthukumar & Ors. vs State Rep. by Inspector of Police

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Madras High CourtJustice Teekaa RamanTamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act

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