Madras high court notice to govt on petition against shifting of law college

Chennai: The Madras high court has ordered notice to the government on a petition which challenged shifting of Dr Ambedkar Government Law College, Parry’s Chennai. When a petition filed by a first year law college student came up for hearing before Justice P. Velmurugan, the judge ordered the government to file reply before June 26.

In the petition Kavya, submitted that she joined a B.A.L.L.B. course for the academic years 2017-2022 at Dr Ambedkar Government Law College, Parry’s  Chennai. She said “I came to know that the government taking steps to close down the Chennai Law College and starting new college at Pattarai Perumbuthur in Tiruvallur  and at Pudupakkam village in Kancheepuram district.” 

Secretary, Public Department issued a GO dated July 7, 2009, to shift the Dr Ambedkar Government Law College from Parry’s. The government took the decision based on recommendations of Justice Shanmugam committee, which was formed to enquire into the clash that occurred between the two groups of students on November 12, 2008.

The petitioner said “there was no rationale in making the recommendation by the committee and there was no scientific reason to believe that the clash among students took place only due to the present location”.

On the contrary, she said the committee should have recommended the authorities to provide necessary counseling to the students to avoid such clashes. And, not to recommend closing down the college. She said many students, who have afraid to go to the new campus, applied for transfer to other government law colleges. However, this was not possible as the other law colleges have adequate sanctioned strength of students. 

The educational institutions cannot be closed down citing the clash among students. She sought direction to authorities not to discontinue the law courses in the college and announce GO as illegal and arbitrary.