Avoid unnecessary inspections, says  CMO after backlash to video posted by Minister Keerthana

The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has asked everyone not to undertake unnecessary inspections of government institutions, Minister for Law R. Nirmalkumar said on Tuesday.

This follows the backlash to the video of an inspection done by Industries Minister S. Keerthana at a government school in Sivakasi, where students were questioned and criticised for their response.

In a letter to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Rajya Sabha Member Salma  flagged the visit and said it was contrary to India’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). She said the Minister having released the unmasked video of the student violated the NCPCR’s guidelines on the reporting of children in the media. This was also in violation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution, and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

“The viral circulation of the video, wherein a senior government functionary is seen mocking the child, has caused, and continues to cause, severe mental and emotional distress, embarrassment, stigmatisation, and potential bullying by peers,” she said.

Arguing that the act was insensitive and misconceived, she said, “It can be detrimental to the confidence of the victim student and other young students who have viewed the incident in person or digitally. It is an utter disregard to her holding office to work for the welfare of the public.”

The Tamil Nadu Child Rights Watch (TNCRW) has urged School Education Minister Rajmohan to formulate guidelines to regulate official visits to educational institutions and prevent intimidation, public humiliation, and misuse of schools for publicity.

Its convener Jesu Rethinam said, “Comprehensive guidelines must be issued to regulate visits by Ministers, elected representatives, and public personalities to educational institutions, with clearly defined educational objectives and protocols. Further, public questioning, comparison, ridicule or humiliation of students and teachers during official visits must be prohibited.”

The TNCRW also wanted a child-friendly protocol formulated for official visits in consultation with child rights experts, educationists, psychologists, and the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. “The use of school premises, classrooms, students or teachers for reels, political messaging, and others for personal, political or organisational publicity must be prohibited,” TNCRW co-convener A. Devaneyan said.