Reception to MKU V-C: HC moved

A PIL has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking to inquire into school children allegedly being made to stand in scorching sun for one hour as part of a 'grand' reception accorded to Madurai Kamaraj University Vice-Chancellor Kalyani Mathivanan on her return after the Supreme Court stayed quashing of her appointment.
When the PIL by retired professor P Vijayakumar came up for hearing, Justice M Jaichandran and Justice R Mahadevan ordered issue of a notice to the Principal Secretary of the Higher Education and Secretary of the School Education and directed them to file their response in four weeks.

The petitioner submitted that the V-C was given a grand welcome when she arrived from Delhi on July 7 last after getting a stay from the apex court against the order of the Madras High Court setting aside her appointment.
During the reception, a caravan of more than 50 cars had followed her vehicle and a substantial number of children of the university public school were asked to stand in hot sun for one hour to welcome her by showering flower, which was a violation of chidren's rights, he contended.
He sought an inquiry pertaining to the reception and appropriate action against the V-C.

He also pleaded for a direction to the School Education Secretary to issue a circular to all schools in the state not to use any children aged below 14 for any public celebration or greeting of the VVIPs.