S. Manimaran v. The State Of Tamil Nadu,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 18-03-2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI WP No.6626 of 2026 and WMP Nos. 11713, 7196 & 7195 of 2026
1. S. Manimaran 2.M. Mohammed Suhabe Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Additional Chief Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai 600 009 2.The Director of School Education, Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Kalvi Valagam, College Road, Chennai 600 006 3.Joint Director of School Education (Personnel), Directorate of School Education, Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Kalvi Valagam, College Road, Chennai 600 006 4.The Chief Educational Officer, Dharmapuri District Dharmapuri 5.The District Educational Officer (Secondary), Dharmapuri Education District, Dharmapuri 6.Headmaster, Government Higher Secondary School, Lakkiampatti 636 705 Dharmapuri District 7.The News Editor, News-18 Tamil, Bascon Maeru, 5th and 6th Floor, near Bala Tourist Home, Valluvar Kottam High Road,
Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034 Respondent(s) PRAYER : Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, directing the Respondents 1 to 5 to initiate appropriate legal action against the persons responsible for recording, transferring, and publishing the video footage from the school premises and circulating the same through television media and social media platforms, portraying the Petitioners/students with distorted and false information, without any complaint, knowledge, or consent of the Petitioners or their parents, thereby causing serious social stigma, disrepute, and disruption to the academic career of the Petitioners, by considering the representations submitted by the Petitioners, dt.06.02.2026 and 14.02.2026 within a time frame to be fixed by this Honble Court For Petitioner(s):
Ms.S.Bharathi Rajan For Respondent:
Ms.Mythreye Chandru for R1 to R6 Special Government Pleader
ORDER
WMP.No.7195 of 2026 has been filed to permit the petitioners to join together to file a single writ petition. This petition is ordered on payment of separate court fee.
2. This petition has been filed for a direction, directing the respondents 1 to 5 to initiate appropriate legal action against the persons responsible for recording, transferring, and publishing the video footage from the school premises and circulating the same through television media and social media platforms, portraying the petitioners/students with distorted and false information, without any complaint, knowledge, or consent of the Petitioners or their parents, thereby causing serious social stigma, disrepute, and disruption to the academic career of the petitioners, by considering the representations submitted by the petitioners dated 06.02.2026 and 14.02.2026.
3. It is the case of the petitioners that the petitioners are minor students studying 10th standard in the 6th respondent school and are academically performing well despite their financially constrained family background. During a revision test in social science, the petitioners inadvertently committed mistakes while answering compulsory questions, for which concerned teacher struck them lightly as a corrective academic measures. The petitioners and their parents did not treat the said incident as misconduct or cruelty and had no grievance against the concerned teacher, however, on 05.02.2026, television news channel telecasted video footage of the incident with exaggerated narration portraying it as corporal punishment, due to which, the petitioners have been subjected to ridicule by others, which has adversely affected their morale and academic concentration. Hence, this petition.
4. Counter has been filed by the fifth respondent stating that the video was directly recorded from CCTV camera by one Pugazhendhi, Higher Grade I Computer Instructor and a petition is also given to the Inspector of Police (Cyber Crime Branch) Dharmapuri on 24.02.2026 by the fourth respondent to investigate, identity and for taking action who shared CCTV recordings to the social media. The said teacher is also placed under suspension. Hence, seeks for appropriate orders.
5. Heard both sides and perused the materials placed on record.
6. In view of the above, this Court without going into the merits of the case, directs the respondents to take effective steps to remove the videographs which was uploaded in the social media by making appropriate complaint to the Law Enforcing Agency and also for taking appropriate action against the person who have unauthorisedly uploaded the videograph. Accordingly, this writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions stand closed.
18-03-2026 dhk Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes
To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government The State of Tamil Nadu, School Education Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai 600 009 2.The Director of School Education, Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Kalvi Valagam, College Road, Chennai 600 006 3.Joint Director of School Education (Personnel), Directorate of School Education, Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Kalvi Valagam, College Road, Chennai 600 006 4.The Chief Educational Officer, Dharmapuri District Dharmapuri 5.The District Educational Officer (Secondary), Dharmapuri Education District, Dharmapuri 6.Headmaster, Government Higher Secondary School, Lakkiampatti 636 705 Dharmapuri District
M.DHANDAPANI J.
dhk WP NO. 6626 OF 2026 18-03-2026