The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government not to use playgrounds in schools, colleges and universities for any non-academic events.
"Any educational institution should be allowed to function as it is, without any interference from the government. The academic atmosphere has to be maintained and should not be vitiated. If the government intends to conduct any exhibition to demonstrate their achievement or whatever it may be, the same can be done anywhere else, except in educational institutions," said Justice Kirubakaran, reported The Times of India.
However, the judge allowed the government to conduct an exhibition on the playground of Chikkanna Government Arts College in Tirupur stating that the petitioner had moved to the High Court at the eleventh hour and there was no time for the organizers to find another venue.
The petition was filed by a man named Kathirvel on December 1 asking to restrain the organizers from holding an exhibition for 45 days in playground of a college to propagate the achievements and schemes of the government, reported The New Indian Express.
Advocate General Vijay Narayan informed that court that the arrangements were made for two weeks for carrying out the exhibition from December 2 and the authorities cannot be restrained from conducting it at the last minute.
The judge stated that according to media reports on November 23 the ‘pandhal’ was put up and the expo was ready to be inaugurated. “If the petitioner had approached the court in time, the result could have been different,” said the judge, reported The New Indian Express.
However, the court stated that the exhibition must start by 5pm and no loudspeakers must be used before that. Moreover, there needs to proper traffic management parking of vehicles must be regulated and no slogans should be raised. The order also added that the playground should be levelled and restored to its original position and if any tree is cut down, the government must plant 25 trees in its place.