A public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed to stop or postpone a temple festival on the ground that it might disturb students writing their board exams, was dismissed by the Madras High Court on Wednesday [S Murugesan v The Commissioner]..While dismissing the plea, a bench of Acting Chief Justice T Raja and Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy said that there is more to life than exams. "No doubt children can't be inconvenienced, but stopping the festival is not a solution. The children can be made to prepare in a secluded place during the day. Exam is not only life. Festivals are also important.".The Court was hearing a PIL filed by one S Murugesan, a daily wager who had sought an interim injunction restraining the local village committees and temple authorities in Salem district from conducting the Panguni festival, celebrated between March and April. He also sought a restraint on any other activity such as setting up loudspeakers that might disturb the students in the area who are preparing for their Class X and Class XII board exams..The Court held that stopping the temple festival, which was a much revered annual event, would not be the solution. The bench also said that thousands of children across the State were preparing for their exams while battling several hurdles. It thus said that it could not stop an entire festival for the petitioner's "one son." The Court further accepted the State government's submission that the locals and the village and temple authorities had been directed to adhere to anti-noise pollution norms, and requisite security arrangements were going to be made across all villages celebrating the festival. The plea was thus dismissed with a direction to the concerned village committees to not use loudspeakers on days of the exam. .Advocate Bharath Gowtham appeared for the petitioner. Advocate General R Shunmugasundaram appeared for the Tamil Nadu government.
A public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed to stop or postpone a temple festival on the ground that it might disturb students writing their board exams, was dismissed by the Madras High Court on Wednesday [S Murugesan v The Commissioner]..While dismissing the plea, a bench of Acting Chief Justice T Raja and Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy said that there is more to life than exams. "No doubt children can't be inconvenienced, but stopping the festival is not a solution. The children can be made to prepare in a secluded place during the day. Exam is not only life. Festivals are also important.".The Court was hearing a PIL filed by one S Murugesan, a daily wager who had sought an interim injunction restraining the local village committees and temple authorities in Salem district from conducting the Panguni festival, celebrated between March and April. He also sought a restraint on any other activity such as setting up loudspeakers that might disturb the students in the area who are preparing for their Class X and Class XII board exams..The Court held that stopping the temple festival, which was a much revered annual event, would not be the solution. The bench also said that thousands of children across the State were preparing for their exams while battling several hurdles. It thus said that it could not stop an entire festival for the petitioner's "one son." The Court further accepted the State government's submission that the locals and the village and temple authorities had been directed to adhere to anti-noise pollution norms, and requisite security arrangements were going to be made across all villages celebrating the festival. The plea was thus dismissed with a direction to the concerned village committees to not use loudspeakers on days of the exam. .Advocate Bharath Gowtham appeared for the petitioner. Advocate General R Shunmugasundaram appeared for the Tamil Nadu government.