In a move promoting inclusivity, the Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to eliminate community and caste references from the names of state-run schools. This decision was delivered by Justices S M Subramaniam and C Kumarappan, who emphasized the need for a neutral naming of educational institutions to avoid stigmatization of students.
The court’s directive came as part of interim orders in a suo motu proceeding following the tragic Kallakurichi hooch incident, which resulted in nearly 65 fatalities. During the hearing, the Justices addressed concerns about the nomenclature of schools in the Kalvarayan hills, specifically citing the “Government Tribal Residential School” as an example where the term “Tribal” could perpetuate a sense of inequality among students.
Justice Subramaniam highlighted the adverse effects of such labels, stating that children might feel marginalized or inferior, believing they are attending a lesser institution compared to their peers in other regions. “Stigmatisation of children under no circumstances should be approved by the Courts and the government,” he remarked.
The bench further criticized the use of community-specific terms in school names, questioning the societal impact of such practices. They pointed out that Tamil Nadu, a state known for its progressive stance on social justice, should not endorse names that could enforce societal divisions, especially in educational settings funded by public money.
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The Chief Secretary of the Tamil Nadu government has been instructed to take appropriate measures to rename these institutions simply as “Government School,” ensuring all children in the locality have equal opportunity to pursue their education without the burden of social labels.
