Tamil not compulsory for private SSLC candidates

A full bench comprising Justices S Manikumar, Abdul Quddhose, and Subramonium Prasad, said, “It could be seen that earlier about 2,939 students have been granted exemption to other students and there is no reason as to why private candidates be discriminated.”

Further, the bench on recording the submission that in the on-line application form for writing Class 10 examinations, there is no provision to opt for any other language except Tamil, said, “If there is no provision in the online application form, to write Part-1 examination, in the language studied by the students (private candidates), certainly, they would be constrained to submit their online applications agreeing to write in Tamil, because there is no option in the application.”

As per the case the petitioners who had undergone private study and eligible to appear in SSLC examination directly without undergoing study in schools had challenged the order of rejection seeking exemption from appearing in Tamil (Part-1). They had contended that by inadvertence, they have submitted their online applications to the Directorate of Government Examination to write Tamil Paper 1 and 2, based on which hall tickets have been issued.

But referring to Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Learning Act, 13 of 2006, the special government pleader C Munuswamy had submitted that as per sub-section (1) of section 3 of the statute, Tamil shall be taught as a subject in Classes 1 to 10 in all schools, in a phased manner commencing from the year 2006-2007 and hence Tamil is compulsory for standards from Classes 1 to 10.

However, the full bench on noting that reasons averred by the petitioners that private candidates, who had not studied Tamil, may be permitted exemption are satisfactory, said, “Having regard to the orders passed by this court, interim as well as final, and for the reasons stated, we are of the view that the petitioners are entitled to similar orders.”

Directing the authorities to issue revised hall tickets, the bench directed the Joint Director of School Education (Secondary) to inform the orders of this court for implementation. It also held that the present interim order passed by this court, is subject to the outcome of the writ petitions pending in this regard.