The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered notice to the State on the public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to the government to remove caste names, prefixes or suffixes, from school and hostel names and rename them in appropriate terms without mentioning caste names.

A Division Bench of Justices D. Bharatha Chakravarthy and R. Poornima was hearing the petition filed by A. Rahul of Madurai. Caste-based discrimination was a persistent issue in Tamil Nadu and it is particularly troubling in the schools across the State, he said.

The environment meant to foster learning and growth, was marred by prejudice and social hierarchy. Students from weaker sections were still made to stand apart and forced to involve in cleaning activities in the schools. he said.

Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front conducted a study across 441 schools in 2023. The study revealed widespread caste-based violence and discrimination. The study, which covered government, government-aided and private schools, found that caste-based discrimination was prevalent among students and alarmingly, propagated by some teachers. The study found that caste-based discrimination extended to teachers. Teachers actively propagated caste-based discrimination in classrooms, refused to touch the weaker section students and subjected them to excessive punishment, he said.

He said a one-man committee was established following a series of disturbing incidents that highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to caste-based discrimination in schools. Retired High Court Judge Justice K. Chandru was appointed to head the committee to address caste-based discrimination and violence in schools. The committee gave several recommendations and the very first recommendation was to drop caste names used as prefixes and suffices in school and hostel names, he said.

He sought a direction to the State to remove caste names as prefixes or suffixes from school and hostel names and rename them in appropriate terms without mentioning the caste names and to remove donor’s name indicating the caste prefix or suffix in schools and hostels.