Chennai: Wondering how 'walking the ramp' would benefit a student pursuing a course in engineering, the Madras High Court has directed authorities to ban beauty shows in all educational institutions, universities, deemed universities and colleges, to decide best looking male / female students in any event organised at inter-college level.
Justice T. S. Sivagnanam issued this the directive while passing interim order on a petition by Lakshmi Suresh, whose daughter who is pursuing engineering course in Chennai won the Ms Technofest 2013 event organised by Students Association and Arts Society at Central Engineering College, Anna University but was denied a prize, besides being ill-treated by the organisers after the event.
The judge said the petition highlighted a serious issue. The petitioner sought a direction against Anna University and the event organisers “Technofest” to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the violation of her daughter’s fundamental rights, lowering her dignity, decency and decorum and degrading treatment which spoiled her moral values and harmed her daughter mentally. Ms Suresh also claimed that the certificate issued to her daughter was a bogus one, the judge added.
The judge said the compensation issue cannot be decided until Anna University and event organisers have filed their counter affidavits. However, one issue which was a matter of concern was whether such an event, to select the best looking male/female student, was required to be conducted in a cultural event, that too organised by a century old engineering college, administered by the government.
Fancy prize money was being advertised and several corporate giants were funding the programme. It has been said that such festivals foster better interaction among students and bring out their talents. It was not known as to how “walking the ramp” would benefit a student pursuing a course in engineering.
