Non-Tamil: Madras HC offers exemption for students

Chennai: The Madras high court on Tuesday directed the educational authorities to grant an exemption to those class 10 students whose mother tongue is not Tamil and sought an exemption, from writing the Part-I Tamil language paper during the board examination, scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh and Justice M Sundar gave the directive on Tuesday. Originally the petitioners challenged the Act of compulsory Tamil in schools and have sought directions to the authorities to exempts from writing the Tamil language paper, whose mother tongue is not Tamil.

The bench aid in spite of seeking a grant of exemption many schools and students have not been given the same. The possibility of their future being affected, if they fail the Tamil examination. The bench clarified fresh applications have to be made by the schools and considered on merits by the authorities.

This order was passed on Tuesday and the examination is to be held on Wednesday.