Cannot initiate contempt proceedings against striking teachers: High Court

The division bench, comprising Justices M Sathyanarayanan and P Rajamanickam stated this when counsel Naveen Kumar Murthi made an urgent mention to move contempt.

Making it clear that the Court had only directed them to return to work by January 25 in the interest of children, the bench said “it is for the government to monitor and take appropriate action against those who flout the order of the Court.”

On January 23, the bench passed an interim order, directing the striking government to resume work not later than January 25. The court passed the interim order on a plea moved by Gokul, a Class 12 student, seeking to stall the strike owing to board examinations and to ensure that classes and revision examinations are conducted as per schedule.

Meanwhile, the indefinite strike entered the fourth day on Friday. While traffic was disrupted in parts of central Chennai due to the road roko staged by JACTTO-GEO members, several government offices had skeletal staff attending to the administration work. However, the Secretariat functioned normal with the government staff reporting to duty.

Hundreds of teachers and State government employees were held in various places across TN, when they tried to stage demonstrations. In Chennai alone, more than 500 members of JACTTO-GEO were taken into preventive custody when they tried to block traffic on Kamaraj Salai. Later in the evening, 41 protesters, including 5 women, were held at Ezhilagam.

Elsewhere, a total of 1,300 members courted arrest in Vellore. They were taken to nearby marriage halls and released later in the day.