CHENNAI: The Madras High Court’s virtual hearing on Friday had unexpected ‘visitors,’ who forced the judges suspend the proceedings. A total of 350 college students, who gained entry into the virtual hearing through a link found on the Madras High Court website, created chaos forcing the judges to suspend the hearing of a plea filed against the State government’s decision to cancel arrears exams.

Former V-C of Anna University E Balagurusamy and advocate Ramkumar Adityan had challenged the cancellation of the examinations, and UGC counsel was waiting to file a detailed reply on the plea, during the hearing.

However, a two-member Bench comprising judges M Sathyanarayanan and R Hemalatha witnessed bizarre sounds, comments and noise made by the students, blacking out the entire hearing. Though the item was listed only for the afternoon session, the students gained entry into the hearing in the morning and began shouting, “please cancel the exams.” When the counsel requested the students to maintain silence, they started exchanging weird comments among themselves. Suspending the virtual hearing, the judges removed all the participants. The hearing was then adjourned to next Tuesday.

Students protest in support of Surappa