Denial of Education to HIV affected children: HC orders notice

Updated on: Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Madras High Court has ordered notice of motion to state authorities on a petition seeking a direction to a Panchayat President to permit 29 HIV affected students to attend regular classes in a village school.

Kancheepuram District Network of Positive People, an NGO represented by its HIV infected founder in a PIL sought a direction to Secretaries of Health, Social Welfare Department and Education to provide free and compulsory education to all
HIV infected children.

It also asked the court to direct Panchayat President of Perunkarani village in Kancheepuram district to compensate the children for being denied permission to attend classes.

The matter came up last week before the Bench, comprising Justices V Dhanapal and A Arumugasamy.

The Bench ordered notice of motion to the authorities, returnable in two weeks and also permitted petitioner's counsel to serve notice to the respondents.

The petitioner submitted that on September 13, 2010 he was told by by NGO 'Aids Home of Hope' a home for abandoned HIV/AIDS women and children that 29 of their children were not allowed to attend classes by the school after knowing their
status.

On enquiry, he came to know the children were made to study in different classes due to fear of transmission to students and staff.

He approached school officials and explained that such children would not pose a danger. The headmaster assured him they would be allowed to attend regular classes after holidays but no action was taken after which he approached the school again and found the situation the same.

His letters to various education officials had also elicited no response, he said.

Denial of Education to HIV affected children: HC orders notice

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