HC quashes order seeking information regarding students’ background

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday quashed an order issued by the Member-Secretary, Model School, School Education Department, that sought certain information regarding the background of students.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by A. Ameer Alam of Madurai. He said as per the proceedings issued by the Member-Secretary, the teachers were instructed to upload details of students under the scheme ‘Special Focus Students’.

All government schools were instructed to update certain information of students studying in Classes IX to XII under the scheme. It appears that most of it concerns the welfare of students. However, some information that was sought may create a divide among students, he said.

Of the 25 categories, the categories 3, 4 and 5 sought information regarding students from refugee backgrounds, students in conflict with law and children of parents who are prisoners, respectively.

These details are usually asked by teachers in front of the entire class. Such information was not required for government records to scrutinise students, he said challenging the order issued by the Member-Secretary.

The petitioner said the order issued was an abuse of the process of law. The order seeks data concerning students which amounts to intrusion into their privacy.

A Division Bench of Justices G. Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan observed that collecting such information affects the privacy of the students and it amounts to discrimination and ill treatment. Perusing the counter affidavit filed by the authorities the court said the purpose of collecting the information has not been explained.