Actor Suriya had called for a move for a united voice against the NEET.
Film star Suriya Sivakumar will not face contempt for her comments in Madras High Court linked to the alleged suicide of three would-be doctors. The Madras High Court today called the actor’s comments “unnecessary and unjustified” but ruled that there would be no contempt proceedings.
“The statements of the film actor are unnecessary and unjustified for ignoring the way in which the entire judiciary of this state has served the interests of the citizens it has been serving during this pandemic …”, said the court.
Supreme Court Justice SM Balasubramaniam had said that the actor was in contempt of court for his comments about four NEET (National Eligibility Test cum Entry) candidates who died by suicide recently in Tamil Nadu.
“This matter, in our judicious discretion, does not deserve further investigation. We fully agree with the opinion expressed by the learned counsel general,” the court said today.
Suriya, who described the student deaths as “painful”, had said: “With fear of life due to fear of the crown, the court that delivers justice through videoconferencing orders students to go fearlessly to take exams “.
Judge Balasubramaniam wrote to the Chief Justice: “The declaration in my opinion considered amounts to contempt of court, since the integrity and devotion of the honorable judges, as well as the judicial system of our Great Nation, are not only undermined but also that are criticized in poor condition, where there is a threat to public confidence in the Judiciary (sic) ”.
The judge had also said: “The statement reveals that the honorable judges fear for their own lives and do justice through videoconferencing. Although they do not have the morals to pass orders directing students to take the NEET exam without fear. . (sic). “
But it appeared that the judge’s translation from Tamil was incorrect in the copy distributed to the media. The judge’s version added elements such as “moral” and “meanwhile” that are not found in the actor’s statement.
Suriya gained a lot of support on social media for her statement in support of the students. Hashtags like #TNStandsWithSuriya were trending on Twitter. Also six former Madras High Court magistrates had written to the Chief Justice against contempt proceedings.
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.
Tamil Nadu 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 named NEET “Manuneedhi Thervu“(thervu is a test in Tamil), which suggests that students from well-to-do families benefited from the ninis and the poor stayed out in the cold.
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