Today(on 8th April), Tamil Nadu government raises concern before Madras High Court, citing ECI’s ban on school children in political gatherings. Advocate General PS Raman highlights PM Modi’s March 18 roadshow as reference.
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Tamil Nadu: Today(on 8th April), The Tamil Nadu government has highlighted regulations from the Election Commission of India (ECI) that appear to prohibit the participation of school children in political gatherings.
This concern was raised before the Madras High Court by Advocate General PS Raman, emphasizing the ECI’s position against involving schoolchildren in such events, specifically referencing a roadshow by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 18.
During a court session on April 8, presided over by Justice G Jayachandran, the Tamil Nadu Advocate General articulated-
“The Election Commission of India has released a thorough compendium on the Model Code of Conduct, which includes a ban on the participation of school children in all types of political rallies.”
This statement was part of the government’s response to a plea seeking to dismiss charges against a principal accused of orchestrating the attendance of students from a Coimbatore-based school at the aforementioned political event.
The case in question, initiated against S Pukul Vadivu, the principal, involves allegations under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act (JJ Act). The charges were based on a complaint by Pavithra Devi, a District Child Protection Officer, who contended that the school compelled its students to participate in the road show, thereby exposing them to a political milieu featuring the Indian Prime Minister and BJP leader, Narendra Modi.
Advocate General Raman, representing the state authorities, requested a postponement of the matter for two weeks to enable the filing of a detailed counter-affidavit addressing specific issues. Concurrently, he sought the extension of interim protection previously granted to the accused school management until the next hearing.
In alignment with this request, the court suspended the ongoing investigation and scheduled the final hearing for April 24.
Justice Jayachandran, on April 5, queried the necessity of such legal action, emphasizing the need for Coimbatore Police to justify the criminal case’s basis, particularly focusing on how the mere presence of schoolchildren in uniform at the roadshow necessitated such measures.
Furthermore, AG Raman highlighted the JJ Act’s scope, which extends beyond immediate harm to encompass “potential” dangers to children. This interpretation opens a broader legal inquiry into whether merely escorting children to a political event constitutes an offence under the Act. Raman underscored the ambiguity surrounding the specifics of the children’s attendance, with conflicting reports about their presence relative to the Prime Minister’s arrival.
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Moreover, Raman introduced a broader consideration into the court’s deliberations, suggesting that the ruling could set a precedent affecting not only political figures but also celebrities from various fields who might draw children into potentially harmful public gatherings.
