The Hindu : Dist. panels to study need for more schools

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 22, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Dist. panels to study need for more schools

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MAY 21. The Kerala Cabinet today decided to appoint district-level committees to examine whether new unaided higher secondary schools should be sanctioned this year.

The Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, who briefed presspersons on the Cabinet decisions, said the committee would examine whether there was need for new schools and whether sanctioning of new schools would affect the functioning of existing aided and unaided schools. The committee would consist of the District Collector, deputy director of education and joint director (higher secondary education).

Mr. Antony said an additional batch would be sanctioned to all existing unaided higher secondary schools in the State from the coming academic year.

Sitting judge for probe

He said the Government was seeking the services of a sitting judge from the High Court for the proposed judicial inquiry into the Marad massacre. The High Court had also been requested for clearance to establish a fast track court to try the cases related to communal incidents.

The Government, he said, had requested the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate the cases against tribals registered in connection with the Muthanga incidents in addition to the allegations about human rights violations. The necessary notifications had been issued.

Mr. Antony said he did not have information about the police preventing the tribal leader, C.K. Janu, from attending a public function organised by the State Women's Commission. The matter would be enquired into.

He said there was nothing unusual or mysterious, as claimed by the Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, about his visiting Marad not accompanied by any other Minister of his Cabinet. He did not wish to reply to Mr. Achuthanandan's allegation that he was a BJP spy in the Congress on the same terms.

The Chief Minister said he welcomed the Opposition move for a no-confidence motion against his Ministry because that would facilitate a thorough debate. Assembly was the best forum to criticise the Government, give voice to people's aspirations and problems. The Opposition should make use of the forum in full and cooperate in smooth conduct of the business.

`Terrorist plot'

Mr. Antony said though Kerala police had sought information on the reports that the Mumbai police had apprehended terrorists who had planned a series of bomb attacks in Kerala, no information was received. He said the investigation into the Marad incident was progressing well. The investigation was transparent and better than the investigations taken up into similar incidents in other States. All responsible for the incident would be apprehended. All should cooperate to maintain peace. The Government had taken all steps to maintain peace and apprehend the culprits. "Let the fair minded people be the judges.''

New appointments

Michael Vedasiromani, he announced, would be appointed as the new Resident Commission of Kerala in New Delhi. The incumbent, C. Chandran, would be posted as chairman of the Coir Board.

The Principal of the Kozhikode Medical College, M.R. Chandran, would be posted as the Director of Medical Education. M.N. Raman would be appointed as the new Principal of the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. Minu Hariharan would be posted as Joint Director of Medical Education.

The new Principal of the Alappuzha Medical College will be J. Nelson who was working in the same college now. B. Jayalakshmi would be appointed as the new Principal of the Kozhikode Medical College and Bhagavathi Amma as the new Principal of the Thrissur Medical College.

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

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Dist. panels to study need for more schools

Strike total in State, normal life disrupted

TC compulsory for school admission

Hand over mosque to Wakf Board: Ravi

New Resident Commissioner

Rajiv Gandhi remembered

`Female foeticide rife in Malappuram, Kozhikode'

Redeployment: officials told to report to designated authority

HC extends deadline for fixing fee structure

May 31 to be observed as `Marad Day'

Hindu meet demand opposed

Gouri's stand puts Govt. in a fix