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Include spoken English in syllabus, Dr Ambedkar Law University told
The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University (TNALU) to include spoken English and communication skills as part of syllabus in the interest of rural students, who lack proficiency in English and communication skills.
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Passing orders on a plea pertaining to the continuance of the three-year course at the School of Excellence in Law (SOEL), a division bench comprising Justices N Kirubakaran and V Parthiban, also directed the State government to have a tie-up with the British Council, Chennai, which is providing short term courses for students in spoken English. The expenses in this regard will have to be borne by the government, the court said.
On the issue of the three-year course, the bench suo motu impleaded SOEL and issued notice to it. “When there are other government colleges to take care of the needs of persons aspiring for three-year law course, TNALU must respond as to why three-year course should not be dispensed with in SOEL,” the bench asked.
Also, on noting that SOEL has around 3,000 students while the number of teaching staff is only 30, the bench said: “It is evident that the college is very much crowded, and it is impossible to impart quality education. Therefore, time has come to reduce the number of courses offered. Therefore, the university as well as SOEL must respond as to why they should not reduce the number of courses offered, including the three-year course.”
On the recruitment of faculty to 187 teaching posts in law colleges in Tamil Nadu, the bench recorded Additional Advocate General (AAG) Arvind Pandian’s submission that the court appointed committee headed by Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar (Retired) has conducted the examination for recruitment of faculty members through the TNPSC. The entire process, including valuation and interview, will be completed with the publication of results by the first week of March.
Further, the bench directed the AAG to get instructions as to whether there is any possibility of reviving the now discontinued scheme, under which young advocates used to be provided with a stipend of Rs 5,000 per month by the government during the early years of their practice. Based on this, the bench suo motu impleaded the State government to be represented by the Home Secretary. Based on another submission that a majority of teaching faculty in government law colleges are guest lecturers and that they are paid Rs 15,000 per month as salary, the bench directed the government to increase the amount to Rs 30,000 per month as an interim measure with effect from February 1. The plea has been posted for further hearing to January 31.
‘Notify appointment of board of trustees in all temples’
The Madras High Court bench here on Friday directed the joint commissioners of all districts in the State to issue a notification on the appointment of the board of trustees in the temples under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. Justices K K Sasidharan and P D Audikesavalu issued the directive, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Gandhi Mathi Nathan, alleging lack of transparency in the maintenance and security of the temples and their renovation.
The petitioner had submitted that many temples are controlled by the HR&CE Department. “The temples are normally managed by a board of trustees and the executive officer. The board and the officials take care of the maintenance and security of the shrines and create the basic infrastructure at these places,” he said. “However, in Tamil Nadu, there has been no board of trustees for the last five years. Even the hereditary trustees were appointed only towards the end of their tenure in some big temples. Only a temple ‘Fit-Person’ (thakkar) is tasked with the responsibilities and activities of the board,” the petitioner said.This led to irregularities and corruption, he alleged and, adding that the non-existence of the board had also led to incidents such as the fire in the Meenakshi temple in Madurai and the wall collapse in the Murugan temple in Tiruchendur. “Had there been a board, such incidents would not have taken place, as it would have taken measures for the safety, security and maintenance of the places of worship. Hence, a board of trustees should be formed. It could comprise women and members of the Scheduled Caste community, among others,” the petitioner said.
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