New Delhi: The Madras High Court on Thursday disallowed the schools and colleges of Tamil Nadu to organize beauty contests.
"It is not known as to how walking the ramp would benefit a student pursuing a course in engineering," wondered Justice T S Sivagnanam on Tuesday, directing the government to issue a circular banning such events in colleges and universities.
The court passed interim order after a petition was filed by the mother of an engineering student, who had won a beauty contest in "Techofes", organised by the College of Engineering, Guindy in Chennai in February 2013, but was allegedly given a fake certificate and also not given the assured prize.
Besides the prize money, the student is also seeking additional Rs. 5 lakh as compensation.
In his order, Justice Sivagnanam said, "One issue which is a matter of concern is whether at all such an event to select the best-looking male/female student is required to be conducted in a cultural event, that too organized by a century-old engineering college established and administered by the government."
The court also intended to examine whether the university exercised due care and control over these programmes, whether there are any guidelines and how funds are administered. "Till these issues are considered, the secretary of higher education department, commissioner of technical education and director of collegiate education are directed to issue a circular forthwith to all institutions, universities, deemed universities and colleges in the state to ban or not to conduct any beauty show or programme to decide best looking male/female student in their institution or at inter-collegiate level," judge said.
The judge said certain interim directions were required to prevent such unpleasant experience. "Fanciful price money is being advertised and several corporate giants fund the programme. The larger question would be the need for such a programme in such a cultural festival," he said.
The university administration however claims that it was not aware of any such event or prize. According to the court, officials of the university should have been aware of the event when it was organized in their premises itself as the schedule must have been approved by the university before the event is conducted.
The judge adjourned the matter to May 22 for further hearing.
