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.
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| 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.
