Cancer patient moves HC to write her law exam

Nov. 30: A 20-year-old girl student, suffering from cancer, has approached the Madras high court, seeking a direction to the college authorities to permit her to write her examination by relaxing the attendance rules.

The exams are scheduled to be held from December 10 to 26 in the Dr Ambedkar Law College. The petition filed by Ms Sumathi (name changed) is likely to come up for hearing before Justice K. Suguna tomorrow.

In her petition, Ms Sumathi, a fourth year law student in Dr Ambedkar law college, said she had been diagnosed with cancer. With the permission of the principal, she took treatment for cancer from April 6, 2009, and subsequently from November 26 onwards, she attended classes in college.

She pointed out that she missed several classes because of genuine reasons and had also presented medical proof of her treatment. Though she expected the principal to allow her to write the examination on humanitarian grounds, to her shock, he denied permission because of shortage of attendance.

She added that she had given a representation to the authorities seeking permission to write the exam, but there was no response. As per Dr Ambedkar law university rules, the institution has to conduct minimum of 90 classes for each and every semester. But the college did not follow this rule, said the petitioner.