The Hindu : Notice issued to Education Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 12, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Notice issued to Education Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, FEB.11. A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court today issued notice to the Education Minister, Nalakath Soopy, the State Government and others on a writ petition seeking an investigation into the circumstances under which the orders for payment of salary for the teaching and non-teaching staff of 35 unaided schools under the Central Government's area intensive programme and for upgrading three schools in Malappuram as high schools were passed.

The Bench comprising the Acting Chief Justice N. K. Sodhi, and Justice K. K. Dinesan issued the notice on a petition filed by M. A. David of Thrissur. The petition also sought quashing the order upgrading the Ahammed Kurikkal Memorial Upper Primary School, Kottakal, the AMUP School, Malappuram and the schools run by the Melmuri Muslim Educational Trust as high schools.

The petitioner said that the Kerala Educational Rules provided the procedure for opening of new schools and upgradation of existing schools. These procedures had been given a go-by after Mr. Soopy assumed charge as Education Minister. The petitioner pointed out that there were six U.P. Schools and four high schools within a seven kilometres radius of the Melmuri School. Therefore, the grant of sanction in favour of the Trust was a misuse of authority at the instance of the Minister who wanted to patronise those who belonged to a particular group. Such actions would have far reaching consequences if not checked. There was total negation of the rule of law. In fact, opening a new school or upgradation of an existing school was ordered based on the necessity of the area.

Notice on M.Ed. courses

Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair today issued notice to the State Government, the University of Kerala, the Mahatama Gandhi University and the NCETE on a writ petition challenging the grant of NOCs to six self-financing training colleges for starting M.Ed. courses.

The notice was issued when the petition filed by managers of St. Joseph's Training College, Mannanam and three other aided training colleges came up before the Judge. The petitioner said that the decision to grant NOCs to the self-financing colleges was arbitrary and illegal. The decision was taken without application of mind. The petitioners alleged that the grant of NOCs was ordered at the instance of the Education Minister.

Criminal cases

A writ petition was filed today before the Kerala High Court seeking to quash the criminal cases registered against Ramachandran Mokeri, Head of the School of Drama and Fine Arts, University of Calicut and certain students of the school in connection with staging of a drama under the banner of the Forum for Peoples Theatre Culture on the streets of Thrissur on Independence day.

The petitioners pointed out that it was an official forum of the School of Drama and Fine Arts. The staging of plays was part of their curriculum and academic activity. The police mistook it for a procession and registered cases against them.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala