Avoid unnecessary checks, says CMO after reacting to video posted by minister Keerthana

R. Nirmalkumar. File | Photo credit: J. Johan Sathyadas

The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has asked everyone not to conduct unnecessary inspections of government institutions, Law Minister R. Nirmalkumar said on Tuesday.

This follows the reaction to a video inspection conducted by Industries Minister S. Keerthana at a government school in Sivakasi where students were questioned and criticized for their reaction.

In a letter to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Rajya Sabha member Salma flagged the visit as being against India’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). She said that by publishing the unmasked video of the student, the minister had violated the NCPCR guidelines on reporting children in the media. It was also in violation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

“The viral spread of a video showing a senior government official mocking a child has caused and continues to cause severe mental and emotional distress, embarrassment, stigmatization and potential peer bullying,” she said.

Arguing that the act was insensitive and misunderstood, she said: “It can damage the confidence of the student victim and other young students who saw the incident in person or digitally. It’s a complete disrespect to her office to work for the public good.”

Tamil Nadu Child Rights Watch (TNCRW) has urged Education Minister Rajmohan to formulate guidelines to regulate official visits to educational institutions and prevent intimidation, public humiliation and abuse of schools for promotion.

Its convener, Jesu Rethinam, said: “Comprehensive guidelines must be issued to regulate the visits of ministers, elected representatives and public figures to educational institutions with clearly defined educational objectives and protocols. Furthermore, public questioning, comparison, ridicule or humiliation of students and teachers during official visits must be prohibited.”

TNCRW also wanted a child-friendly protocol formulated for official visits in consultation with child rights experts, educationists, psychologists and the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. “The use of school premises, classrooms, students or teachers for filming, political messages and more for personal, political or organizational publicity must be prohibited,” said TNCRW co-organizer A. Devaneyan.

Published – 7 Jul 2026 21:14 IST