Thamizhaga Pengal Iyakkam v. State Of Tamil Nadu

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 24.11.2021 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.MUNISHWAR NATH BHANDARI, ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P.D.AUDIKESAVALU W.P.No.13114 of 2021 Thamizhaga Pengal Iyakkam, rep. by its Secretary S.Vasuki, 125/257, 3rd Floor Canara Bank Building, Anappa Naicken Street, George Town, Chennai - 600 001.

.. Petitioner Vs

1. State of Tamil Nadu, rep. by Chief Secretary, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2. Ministry of School Education, rep. by its Secretary, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

3. Ministry of Higher Education, rep. by its Secretary, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

4. Ministry of Women and Child Development, rep. by its Secretary, Shastri Bhawan, Dr.Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi.

5. State Ministry of Women and Child Development, rep. by its Secretary, Veerasamy Street, Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu-600 008.

.. Respondents

Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for a writ of mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 3 to announce 2021 as zero academic year and take rapid efforts to provide online access to government run and government aided schools by setting up online digital arrangements in every street in rural areas and slums where economically and socially downtrodden people are living and monitor the education of the Children by appointing qualified persons of the same locality, consequentially, direct the 1st to 3rd respondents to form district/taluk and panchayat level committees involving NGO's/Activities to ensure no children stopped continuing education.

For the Petitioner : Ms.Kanimozhi Mathi For the Respondents : Mr.R.Shunmugasundaram Advocate General assisted by Mr.P.Muthukumar State Government Pleader For R1 to R5

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Acting Chief Justice) The writ petition was filed for the following orders: "For the reasons stated in the accompanying affidavit the petitioner prays that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to issue Writ of Mandamus or any other order or direction in the nature of writ, directing the respondents 1 to 3 to announce 2021 as zero academic year and take rapid efforts to provide online access to government run and government aided schools by setting up online digital arrangements in every street in rural areas and slums where economically and socially downtrodden people are living and monitor the education of the Children by appointing qualified persons of the same locality. Consequentially, direct the 1st to 3rd respondents to form district / taluk and panchayat level committees involving NGO's / Activities and ensure no children stopped continuing education and thus render justice."

2. In reference to the prayer, the State has filed a detailed counter along with orders passed from time to time to address the prayer made by the petitioner. Appropriate steps

have been taken by the Government to redress the issue raised in the writ petition.

3. In view of the above, we do not find any necessity to pass further order in the matter, especially when the Government has announced opening of schools for its physical working. It would be open for the petitioner to raise any other issue other than already addressed by the Government by filing a fresh public interest litigation.

4. With the aforesaid, the present writ petition is disposed of. There will be no order as to costs.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar bbr To:

1. The Chief Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2. The Secretary, Ministry of School Education, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

3. The Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

4. The Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Shastri Bhawan, Dr.Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi.

5. The Secretary, State Ministry of Women and Child Development, Veerasamy Street, Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu-600 008.

+1cc to Government Pleader SR. No. 61076 (30/05/2022) W.P.No.13114 of 2021 JPII (CO) PR (03/12/2021)