Saturday 7 February 2015

Madras High Court passes interim order in a case directing Government authorities to issue a circular forthwith banning the conduct of beauty contests in colleges in Tamil Nadu



The Madras High Court hearing a petition filed a mother of a student alleging non-conferment of the promised prize at a beauty pageant held as part of a cultural event at Anna University's College of Engineering in Guindy, has passed an interim order directing the government authorities to issue a circular forthwith banning the conduct of beauty contests in colleges in Tamil Nadu.
 
Madras High Court
Justice T S Sivagnanam passed the interim order in a petition filed by a mother, Lakshmi Suresh, who said her daughter, an engineering student, participated in Ms Techofes contest held as part of the annual cultural event at Anna University's College of Engineering in Guindy in February 2013. The girl won the beauty contest, but was given a forged certificate by the organisers of Ms. Techofes-2013. She was also not given the promised prize, the petitioner claimed.

Claiming that her daughter's dignity and decency had been undermined, Lakshmi demanded the promised prize along with a compensation of Rs 5 lakh.

Justice Sivagnanam wondered as to how walking the ramp would benefit a student pursuing a course in engineering. In his order, Justice Sivagnanam said: "One issue which is a matter of concern is whether at all such an event to select the best-looking male/female student is required to be conducted in a cultural event, that too organized by a century-old engineering college established and administered by the government."

Justice Sivagnanam further said that the court intended to examine whether the university exercised due care and control over these programmes, whether there are any guidelines and how funds are administered. "Till these issues are considered, the secretary of higher education department, commissioner of technical education and director of collegiate education are directed to issue a circular forthwith to all institutions, universities, deemed universities and colleges in the state to ban or not to conduct any beauty show or programme to decide best looking male/female student in their institution or at inter-collegiate level."


The University however contended that it was not aware of any such event or prize. Rejecting this argument of the University, Justice Sivagnanam said: "When the programme was conducted on the premises of the university, it cannot be stated that officials of the university were not aware of various events mentioned in the programme. It could be presumed that programme schedule would have to be approved by the university before the event is conducted."

The Court then said that certain interim directions were required to prevent such unpleasant experiences.  "Fanciful price money is being advertised and several corporate giants fund the programme. The larger question would be the need for such a programme in such a cultural festival," said Justice Sivagnanam. It was in this context that the Court asked the governmental authorities to ban the holding of such beauty contests.
 

The Court then adjourned the matter to May 22 for further hearing.

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