Taking objection to conduct of beauty contests in colleges and other educational institutions in Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court has directed the state government to issue a circular banning such events in colleges and universities.

Chennai: Objecting to the conduct of beauty contests in colleges and other educational institutions in Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court on Friday directed the state government to issue a circular banning such events in colleges and universities.

"It is not known as to how walking the ramp would benefit a student pursuing a course of engineering," Justice TS Sivagnanam said, passing interim orders on a plea from one Lakshmi Suresh.

The judge directed the Secretary, Higher Education department and the Commissioner of Technical Education Department, to issue a circular forthwith to all institutions, Universities, Deemed Universities, and Colleges affiliated to various universities in the state "to ban or not to conduct any beauty shows or any programme to decide best looking male/female student in their Institution or in any event organised at Inter-College Level".

The petitioner said her daughter, an engineering student, took part in 'Ms Techofes contest' conducted as part of the annual cultural event at Anna University's College of Engineering at Guindy in February 2013.

The girl was not given the promised prize, she said, adding, a certificate of appreciation was given in which the signatures were forged.

The petitioner sought a direction to Dean, Central Engineering College, Anna University and President, Students Association and Arts Society and organisers of the Techofes to award her daughter with the prizes as assured and advertised and compensation of Rs 5 lakh for violation of her daughter's fundamental rights and for treatment meted out.

"...Whether the university exercises due care and control over these programmes, whether any guidelines have been issued as to which authority of the university monitors the programmes and before deciding the issue of compensation, the matter of concern is whether all such an event to select the best looking female/male student is required to be conducted in a cultural event, that too organised by a century old engineering college established and administered by the government," the judge said.

The judge then directed the University to file a counter and posted the matter on February 20.

PTI