Beauty contests and the law:India
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Judicial judgements
Ban on beauty pageants in TN schools and colleges: HC
Feb 06 2015
No more beauty contests in colleges and other educational institutions in Tamil Nadu, the Madras high court has ordered. “It is not known as to how walking the ramp would benefit a student pursuing a course in engineering,“ wondered Justice T S Sivagnanam on Tuesday , directing the government to issue a circular banning such events in colleges and universities. The judge was passing interim orders on a petition filed by Lakshmi Suresh, who said her daughter, an engineering student, participated in Ms Techofes contest held as part of the annual cultural event at Anna University's College of Engineering in Guindy in February 2013. The o girl won the beauty contest but was given a forged cerd tificate by the organizers of s Techofes-2013. She was also l not given the promised prize, s the petition said. Claiming n her daughter's dignity and de cency had been undermined, Lakshmi demanded the promised prize along with a compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
In his order, Justice Sivagnanam said: “One issue which is a matter of concern is whether at all such an event to select the best-looking malefemale student is required in a cultural event, that too organized by a century-old engineering college established and administered by the government.“
The judge said the court intended to examine whether the university exercised due care and control over these programmes, whether there are any guidelines and how funds are administered.
