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VS asks Govt. to move SC

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM May 28. The Leader of the Opposition, V. S. Achuthanandan, has asked the Government to move the Supreme Court (SC) against the Kerala High Court judgment allowing college managements to decide whether or not to permit political activity on their campuses.

In a statement here today, Mr. Achuthanandan said the State Government had the duty to go in appeal against the High Court verdict because it was fraught with serious consequences. It would be wrong to ban politics in campuses because colleges were public institutions where students who had voting rights studied. It would be impossible to create total citizens merely on the basis of what was taught in colleges, he said.

The Leader of the Opposition said that at a time when even places of worship were being turned into arms dumps, a ban on campus politics would embolden religious extremist groups to gain entry into campuses and turn these also into arms dumps. The State Government seemed unconcerned about the problem because it was retreating from the sphere of public education and leaving the field open for commercial interests. It was heartening that all student organisations have come out against the High Court decision. All these student organisations should launch a joint struggle to protect the democratic character of campuses, he said.

The CPI(ML) Red Flag has also come out strongly against the High Court verdict. In a statement here, the party State secretary, P. C. Unnichekkan, said the High Court verdict was a definite sign of the way the judiciary, reformed in accordance with the globalisation policies, would pronounce verdicts in future.

Mammen welcomes it

On the other hand, the freedom fighter, K.E. Mammen, has welcomed the verdict.

In a statement here today, Mr. Mammen said parents sent children to colleges for studies and not to indulge in `dagger politics'. When even senior political leaders were incapable of behaving in a responsible manner, the High Court verdict had great relevance. Parents should send letters congratulating the High Court for its verdict, the noted Gandhian said.

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