HC directs contemner to pay Rs 10 k for petitioners' stay

Expressing deep concern over "deliberate" disobedience of its October, 2013 order while hearing a contempt petition by five students, the Madras High Court bench here today directed a private college in Karur to pay Rs 10,000 to them to cover the cost for their stay here for the court proceedings.
Apparently anguished by the plight of the students who have come from far off Salem and Dharmapuri, Justice S Nagamuthu directed contemner Krishnamohan, Correspondent (administrator) of MSES College of Education at Thanthonri in Karur District to pay the cost of their stay here for the court proceedings.
The B.Ed students, including M.Sankar and Kavitha, have filed the contempt plea against the college for not implementing the court's October 3, 2013 order directing Krishnamohan to hand over the certificates such as mark sheets and degree certificate withheld despite their completing the course successfully in 2012.

Though they had paid their fees and other charges, the college authorities had asked them to pay Rs 30,000 additionally if they wanted to get their certificates, forcing them to approach the court.
The court then held that the college had no right to retain the certificate and directed the Correspondent to give them within six weeks.
However, when the students met the authoriteis armed with the court order, they refused to give the certificates, following which they filed the contempt petition.

During the last hearing, the Correspondent said the certificates had been taken away by the police following which the court summoned the jurisdictional Police Inspector who denied the charge.

When the matter came up for hearing today, the Judge said the issues relating to the certificates, as to who was in possession of them -- whether the college or police or somebody -- would have to be inquired and posted the case for hearing tomorrow.
In the meanwhile, he directed the contemner to pay Rs.10,000 to the petitioners to enable their stay and cover transportation charges.