Chennai: The Madras high court has suggested to the Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University to conduct special classes to adjust the shortage of classes during the months of January and February 2018. The students had, during that period, indulged in hunger strikes against changing the college premises.
Disposing of a petition filed by a second year student from Dr. Ambedkar Government Law college, Justice S.Vaidyanathan said, “If any special classes are going to be conducted to compensate the loss of working days, the petitioner shall be permitted to attend those classes and his attendance shall be considered”.
In his petition, N. Balasubramani sought a direction to the Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University and Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College to receive the term fee for the fourth semester in third year LLB course enabling him to pursue his law course.
The judge said, “Time for payment of fourth semester fees may be extended, without prejudice to the rights of the parties and the same shall be taken into consideration for the present semester if special classes are conducted. If special classes are not conducted for the purpose of completing the subjects and also to overcome shortage of attendance for all the students, the said term fee will be carried forward to the next semester to enable the petitioner to re-do the semester”.
According to petitioner, as he was suffering from viral fever and jaundice, he could not attend classes in January and February and that he had to stay in his native place, Batlagundu, for rest. After recovering from the illness, he made a representation to the principal stating the medical reasons. The principal instructed him to attend classes without fail. When he attempted to pay the semester fee, the clerk concerned refused to receive the same and stated the college was closed due to hunger strike as the students were demanding not to change the college premises, he added.
The counsel appearing for Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College submitted that the Regulation clearly stated that the students who have secured less than 66 percent of attendance, have to re-do the full course of one year/one semester in each subsequent academic year by obtaining permission for readmission from the Director of Legal Studies. The academic year started on January 8, 2018 and the last day for instruction classes for the fourth semester was April 30.
The petitioner did not pay the fee on or before January 30 being the last date and though no classes were held on account of hunger strike during January and February, he did not attend the classes during the working days in March, even after recovering from illness, the counsel added.
