D KARNAN Vs. STATE OF TAMILNADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner has come forward to challenge an order passed by the State Government in G.O.Ms.No.176 School Education Department dated 20-08-2008. By the aforesaid order, the State Government introduced yoga for classes VI to XI. By introducing yoga classes without interrupting the regular academic work, the State Government directed the School management that out of two teaching hours allotted to physical education, one teaching hour can be used for Thianam, Yogasanam and Pranayamam and there is no change for another one hour teaching in physical education. It is also made clear that while preparing time table, the School management must adhere to allot one hour teaching time for yoga classes for the students and there may not be any disturbance to the regular academic work. THE State Government also stated that yoga shall be taught to the students by the Physical Education Teachers. For that purpose, they have been given training in the Block Resource Centre.

(2.) THE grievance of the petitioner was that instead of appointing Yoga teachers, who are having qualification, asking the Physical Education Teachers to teach Yoga was erroneous and this denies employment to the persons who are having regular Diploma. It is also stated that Physical Education Teachers are not qualified to teach Yoga and no one can learn the principles of Yoga within a short training given by the Block Resource Centre. It is also claimed that the petitioner had obtained the Diploma in Yogic Science and Education from the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University at Tirunelveli and he is competent to teach Yoga. In that view of the matter, the Writ Petition came to be filed.