Plea Seeking Declaration Of 2021 As “ Zero Academic Year”: Madras High Court Issues Notice

The Madras High Court on Wednesday has issued notice in a plea seeking directions to authorities to announce 2021 as ‘zero academic year’. 

Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy while admitting the plea filed through Thamizhaga Pengal Iyakkam, an association for women empowerment has directed the State to file its counter-affidavit within four weeks from date and has further directed supply the petition’s copy to the Advocate General’s office.

“Issue notice to the respondents; returnable six weeks hence. The State should file its counter-affidavit within four weeks from date.”, Court said.

The petitioner in the plea has also sought for issuing directions to the state to undertake fast efforts for supplying on line entry to authorities and aided faculties by organising digital preparations in each road in rural areas and slums where economically and socially downtrodden individuals dwell. The petitioners have further insisted on creating Taluk level committees by involving non government organisations and activities to monitor whether children are able to attend online classes regularly.

According to the petitioner, the federal government ought to have set up such services for children of marginalised individuals. It ought to have been monitored by one of many certified individuals from the identical locality following lockdown restrictions and Covid-19 protocols. 

“If such children are allowed to go away from their regular learning routine they will not come back to learn and study, eventually becoming drop-outs, daily wage workers or even entering into illegal activities,” the plea states. 

It has also been averred that although the parents of such kids perceive the worth of the schooling as a consequence of their unemployment in the course of the lockdown, they however might be in a place to make their kids research frequently or to make them proceed to college.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 4, 2021.

Case Title: Thamizhaga Pengal Iyakkam Vs.State Of Tamil Nadu And 4 Others.| WP 13114/2021

Inputs from TOI