The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Political parties gear for protest against court verdict

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Political parties gear for protest against court verdict

V. Jayanth

Students and parents ask Chief Minister not to go on appeal

CHENNAI: As clearly indicated during the hearing, the First Bench of the Madras High Court has quashed the Government Order abolishing entrance test for admission to professional courses.

This has brought considerable relief to a majority of students and their parents. But they fear that it is not the final word.

While the Government reserves the right to go on appeal to the Supreme Court, some political parties are gearing for a show of protest against the verdict.

If one goes by the High Court order, the status quo ante will prevail. Admissions will be on the basis of the combined weightage of marks secured in Plus Two and the Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examination (TNPCEE). As the students have taken the `improvement mark test' already, it may be allowed this year.

The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has already announced a protest demonstration for Tuesday to demand that the State Government promulgate an ordinance scrapping the entrance test. The Dravidar Kazhagam has also expressed anguish at the legal turn of events in this crucial case and wants the Government to go on appeal.

The education administrators have been caught in between. They are ready to abide by either order — the Government's earlier decision or the High Court ruling. All they want is a clear announcement from the State Government and they will get the system organised. Officials say there is a technical problem. The application forms for medical and paramedical courses, issued last week, do not provide for entering the TNPCEE marks or the "improvement marks." Fresh applications will have to be issued. Whichever way it goes, they need a decision and as fast as possible.

Students and parents have appealed to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa not to go on appeal as this will further delay the admission process.

They want to begin their first year studies as early as possible so that the first semester does not get merged with the second or the opening of colleges delayed till September.

They know the suspense will continue for a few more days until the Government takes a final decision on whether to approach the Supreme Court or not.

Legal sources say that as the High Court itself has relied on a Supreme Court order and on "equality of rights," there is little scope for a review of the verdict by the apex court. "An appeal will only delay the inevitable," a senior counsel said.

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