Actor Suriya has also called for a movement for a united voice against the NEET.
Chennai:
Movie star Suriya Sivakumar should face contempt for her comments in Madras High Court on Sunday linked to the alleged suicide of three would-be doctors, a judge said. However, it appears that the judge reacted to a poorly translated version of Suriya’s statement.
Four students who were to stand for the highly competitive NEET (National Cum Entry Eligibility Test), died by suicide last week in Tamil Nadu.
Suriya, who described the deaths as “painful” and “shook his conscience,” said: “With fear of life due to fear of the crown, the court that delivers justice through videoconferencing orders students to go fearlessly to appear for exams “. “
Madras High Court judge SM Subramaniam said the actor was in contempt of court. “Such a statement, in my weighted opinion, amounts to contempt of court, as the integrity and devotion of the honorable judges and the judicial system of our great nation are not only undermined but badly criticized, where there is a threat to public confidence in the Judiciary (sic), ”he wrote to the Chief Justice of Madras.
But the judge’s translation from Tamil of the controversial part of Suriya’s statement is incorrect in the copy distributed to the media.
“The statement reveals that the honorable judges fear for their own lives and do justice through video conferencing. Meanwhile, they have no morals to pass orders directing students to take the NEET exam without fear (sic).” wrote the judge.
While Suriya’s statement appeared to be fact, the judge’s version added elements such as “moral” and “meanwhile” that are not found in the actor’s statement.
Six former judges have asked the President of the Madras High Court not to take any action against Suriya. “We must show generosity and magnanimity in considering Suriya’s help to hundreds of poor students. The overreaction of an artistic person should not be taken seriously and out of context. It is our duty to appeal for the court to get rid of any unnecessary controversy.” expressed the former judges. he wrote in his letter to the Chief Justice.
The actor has gained support on social media for his statement, with #TNStandsWithSuriya trending on Twitter.
Several states had asked for NEET and JEE to be postponed, given the surge in COVID 19 cases. The Supreme Court twice rejected petitions to postpone exams, once from students and the second from opposition-ruled states.
For nearly a decade, Tamil Nadu had abolished the medical entrance exam, saying it created stress for students and poor students could not afford private training. The state had required exemption from NEET and consent to admit students based on Class 12 grades.
Suriya also called for a movement for a united voice against NEETs, saying: “NEETs kill the dreams of doctors for children from poor families. We should not be silent bystanders to student deaths.”
The 45-year-old actor called NEET “Manuneedhi Thervu” (thervu is a test in Tamil), suggesting that students from well-to-do families benefited from NEET and the poor were left behind.
The son of a merchant in Namakkal and the son of a scrap metal merchant in Dharmapuri committed suicide on Saturday, one day before NEET on Sunday. Both had failed the exam last year.
Jothishri Durga, the daughter of a deputy inspector, cleared NEET last year, but was on the waiting list. In her suicide note, she said she was worried about failing.
A few days ago Vignesh, the son of a farmer who had gotten a seat in a private dental school last year, committed suicide because his family could not afford Rs. 5 lakh required for admission. His parents say he was stressed.
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