Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the police to pass favourable orders for the Association of University Teachers to conduct street campaign programme on K.K.Salai, Sholinganallur, for three days from September 27 to 29 between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Justice M.S.Ramesh gave the directive while disposing of a petition from AUT, which challenged an order of the Commissioner of Police, rejecting its request to grant permission to conduct street campaign programme against the largescale corruption prevailing at the D.B.Jain College in the matter of students admission and collection of exorbitant fees and conversion of aided courses into self financing courses.
Petitioner’s counsel S.Sathiachandran submitted that originally there were 8 aided courses in D.B.Jain College. Subsequently, the management started 12 self financing courses. After commencing the self financing courses and tasting the huge collection of money in the form of admission and capitation fees, the college started converting the aided courses offered in the Forenoon session of the college by not appointing qualified teachers against the sanctioned vacancies under the aided stream and started appointing unqualified staff much against the government norms and the UGC regulations. The college management has been collecting exorbitant fees much against the Fees prescribed by the state government. The college has no qualified Principal till this date. In the backdrop of various irregularities and corruption, the AUT sought permission to conduct street campaign programme. But, the permission was denied. Hence, the AUT filed the present petition, Sathiachandran added.
In his order, the judge said counsel for the petitioner submitted that only 30 persons intend to participate in the demonstration and that they would conduct the demonstration in very peaceful manner. He also submitted that the timing which was originally sought for i.e., 10 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. could be restricted.
Additional public prosecutor Iyyapparaj submitted that the place in which the petitioner seeks for conducting the street campaign programme was very congested and if they request for such demonstration to be conducted at K.K.Salai for a limited hours between 10 a.m and 12 p.m. the same could be regulated.
“In my view, such an offer from the police seems to be reasonable and the petitioner may also not have a grievance. In the light of the above observations, the petitioner is granted liberty to approach the respondents (police) seeking for permission for conducting the street campaign programme for three days i.e, from September 27 to 29 between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. in K.K.Salai, Sholinganallur. The respondent shall pass favourable orders for the petitioner to conduct such street campaign programme at K.K.Salai, Sholinganallur.
While passing such favourable orders, the respondent shall be at liberty to impose reasonable conditions for the purpose of regulating the street campaign.
The petitioner shall also ensure that the program is conducted in a peaceful manner”, the judge added.
