Date:05/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/05/stories/2007010510150400.htm

Kerala

UDF stand vindicated: Chandy

Special Correspondent

Says filing of appeal will put education sector in more confusion

Education Minister should quit Cabinet: Chennithala

Frame new law that will protect rights of minorities: Thankachan

Thiruvananthapuram : The United Democratic Front (UDF) has said the High Court verdict striking down important provisions of the Kerala Professional Colleges Act is a vindication of its stand inside and outside the Assembly that the clauses are unconstitutional and that the Government should adopt a practical approach.

The UDF and the Congress had opposed Education Minister M.A. Baby's move to file an appeal in the Supreme Court. Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said that filing an appeal would be a futile exercise, pushing the higher education sector into another round of confusion. The Government should adopt a practical approach that would address the twin issues of moderate fee structure and quality education provided by the self-financing professional institutions.

He said the UDF had maintained that some of the clauses in the legislation would not stand legal scrutiny. But the Minister had brought in the controversial provisions through official amendments during the clause-by-clause discussion in the Assembly bypassing the Subject Committee recommendations. All the provisions that had been struck down by the High Court had been opposed by the UDF in the Assembly, but were carried through on the strength of the LDF's majority in the House. He clarified that the UDF agreed to vote for the legislation because it wanted a solution.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala said the verdict proved that the Education Minister was not qualified to continue in his post. He said the UDF formulated 50-50 norm was the only practical formula and the Government should give up its ego and try to arrive at a consensus with the private managements. UDF convener P.P. Thankachan said the Government should consider a new legislation that would protect the existing rights of the minority communities instead of filing an appeal in the Supreme Court against the High Court verdict. Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and the former Education Minister E.T. Mohammed Basheer said the verdict was a set back to the anti-minority stand of the LDF Government.

Kerala Congress (M) leader K.M. Mani said the Education Minister should resign owning moral responsibility for precipitating confusion in the higher education sector.