Madras HC issues notice to Director of Collegiate Education

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ordered notice to the Director of Collegiate Education on a PIL seeking direction to appoint counsellors on campuses of all colleges including private to counsel students facing psychological and behavioural problems.

The Petitioner M.Gnanagurunathan submitted that though the state had announced during 2008-09 that it would hold free counselling sessions twice a year, but steps were not taken so far in this regard even after five years.

After the death of a second year B.Tech student, the court also had suggested that the government could hold pre-and post examination counselling to create positive thinking, courage and self confidence among the students, it was submitted.

The Director of Collegiate education also issued a circular directing all colleges to establish counselling centre on the campus to guide the students facing psychological or behavioural problems, but colleges failed to act.

The colleges did not constitute disciplinary committees to act against students who misbehave in colleges in complaince of the circular issued by the Directorate, the petitioner contended.

According to Police information 17 cases of students violence had been registered in the state in this academic year.

Of these six had been reported in private colleges including the murder of a principal in a college in Tuticorin. Justice V Dhanabalan and Justice G Chokkalingam ordered notice returnable within two weeks and adjourned further hearing.

PTI