Jayalalithaa assets case: Private schools to reopen tomorrow

Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu today withdrew its decision to close its schools tomorrow in support of AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa, in the wake of strong protests from different quarters, including politicians and educationists.

Revoking their earlier decision, the Federation today said private schools would reopen after Puja holidays tomorrow. It maintained that the decision was revoked due to the fact that many schools had scheduled exams tomorrow.

However, its decision to hold a protest in the Directorate of School Education campus by correspondents of all private schools tomorrow remained, D C Elangovan, Federation Secretary said in a statement.

He had announced yesterday that over 4,500 private schools would remain closed in support of Jayalalithaa, who is in prison in Bangalore after a Special Court there sentenced her to four years imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case on September 27. DMK chief M Karunanidhi, CPI (M) state secretary G Ramakrishnan and PMK leader S Ramadoss were among those who opposed the Federation's move to close the private schools.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Coimbatore Private Self-Financing Colleges have announced a holiday for their 170 colleges, to express solidarity with the demand for release of Jayalalithaa, police said. Jayalalithaa's bail plea is coming up before the Karnataka High Court tomorrow.