Date:10/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/10/stories/2008051050600100.htm

Front Page

Government to wait till May 13

High Court admits plea against single-window system

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday admitted writ petitions filed against the decision of the government to introduce single-window system for admission in aided and government higher secondary schools. The petitions were filed by the Corporate Manager of Schools under the Archdiocese of Changanaserry and others.

When the petitions came up for hearing, counsel for the petitioners pleaded for a stay on the decision. While opposing the plea, the government pleader assured the court that the decision would not be implemented till May 13. The court then adjourned further hearing on the petitions to May 13.

Decision against rule

The petitioners pointed out that the decision was against Rule 1 of Chapter VI of the Kerala Education Rules. It also violated the right of the minorities to administer education institutions under Article 30(1) of the Constitution. No executive order was passed for implementing the system. It was incorporated in the prospectus, they said. As per the system, a student seeking admission could get an application from any one of the schools. The student need not buy more than one application form to seek admission. The application could be filed in any of the schools. The preferences of schools and subject combinations could be marked in the application. The Higher Education Director allotted students to schools. The petitioners said that the mode of selection and method of allotment were all vague.

Besides, there was no mechanism to check or verify whether the admission had been done in the order of merit. The system which was introduced in schools in Thiruvananthapuram district was a total failure, they said.