CHENNAI: Madras High Court has refused to stay the operation of a notice issued by the School Education Department directing Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth and two others, including his wife Latha Rajinikanth, to personally appear before the authorities to explain the dispute over the lease of the land where the school run by the actor’s trust was located.
The actor’s Sri Raghavendra Trust runs and administers the Ashram Matriculation Higher Secondary School and Ms Vandana Tugnait is the Principal of the school, who was also directed by the Joint Director of the School Education Department to appear before the authorities.
When the petition filed by the Principal seeking to exempt their personal appearance came up for hearing last evening, Justice M M Sundaresh observed that the school could have put forth its case before the official instead of coming to the court.
The Joint Director had asked Rajinikanth, Latha and Vandhana to appear in person for questioning after the school could not produce the documents pertaining to the lease of the land in which the school was functioning for renewing the permission granted to the school.
According to the petitioner, in 2011, the land owner where the school was located, filed a civil suit for its eviction.
When the matter was pending before the court, the School Education Department introduced new rules for matriculation schools mandating submission of lease deed for at least for 30 years for the purpose of renewal of permission.
The school could not submit the lease deed and the land owner had also obtained a favourable order in the civil suit. Under these circumstances, the Joint Director directed Mr Rajinikanth and the two others to appear for an enquiry.
Challenging the School Education Department’s directive, Ms Vandana filed the present petition seeking exemption from personal appearance. It may be noted that the school had also moved the High court seeking processing of its renewal application without insisting on the 30 year lease deed from the land owner and this was also pending. (AGENCIES)
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