The Hindu : Rajagopal lauds the order

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 29, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Rajagopal lauds the order

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MAY 28. The Minister of State for Defence, O. Rajagopal, has expressed the hope that the decision of the Kerala High Court to prohibit political activity on college campus would augur well for the academic scene.

Talking to mediapersons after addressing a function organised this evening at the Sainik School at Kazhakuttom near here, he hailed the decision and described it as a harbinger of academic progress in the educational institutions. Apolitical campuses would improve academic quality as also the performance of the students, he added.

Learning the nuances of politics was one thing and practising them in the educational institutions was altogether different. Political activity in colleges would not do any good to any one. On the other hand, prohibiting it would benefit the academic community in the longer perspective, Mr. Rajagopal said.

In reply to questions on the functioning of the Sainik schools in the country, he said the Ministry of Defence would examine how best it could be improved. The demand for adequate allocation of funds from his ministry in a bid to reduce the financial burden of the parents of the students of all the 18 Sainik schools in the country would be discussed at the national level, the Minister said. , adding that he was aware of the burden likely to be caused to self-financing institutions like such schools by way of increase in salaries and retirement benefits to staff.

He wanted the State Governments to allocate sufficient funds for the maintenance of these educational institutions.

Earlier, while addressing the cadets, the Minister exhorted them to make best use of the opportunity that has come their way to receive public school education which everyone do not have access to. The Principal of the school, Col. C. V. Remanaiah, headmaster, Maj. Rishiraj Singh and registrar, Maj. S. K. Tandon, spoke. The Minister inspected a guard of honour presented by the cadets and laid a wreath at the `Stupa of Remembrance'.

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

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Cabinet panel for peace efforts in Marad

Land ceiling for cashew holdings to go

Indian press vulnerable despite guarantees: Ram

Govt. yet to discuss HC order on campus politics

Krishna Iyer for avoiding campus politics

Rajagopal lauds the order

VS asks Govt. to move SC

Archbishop Mar Powathil welcomes fiat

CMP adopts `open door' policy