A Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) councillor on Tuesday moved the Madras High Court against the alleged use of educational institutions for the political glorification of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. The petition questions the inclusion of school students in celebrations organised for the Chief Minister’s birthday on June 22.The plea comes after a birthday event held at Sowthapuram Government Higher Secondary School in Namakkal district drew criticism over the treatment of students.According to an earlier report by TOI, “Thalapathi” Surya, deputy secretary of the Sowthapuram panchayat union, had announced that gold coins would be presented to Class 10 and Class 12 toppers as part of Vijay’s birthday celebrations.However, the event allegedly caused inconvenience to students. A teacher, requesting anonymity, said students had to wait for more than an hour under the scorching sun, with many sitting on the ground because there was not enough space.The controversy had surfaced just days after School Education Minister A Rajmohan warned party functionaries not to disturb students during school hours or shoot reels on school campuses.
