Date:19/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/19/stories/2008121955410400.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Opposition boycotts sitting

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition boycotted the fag end of the sitting on Thursday demanding that Education Minister M.A. Baby announce the cancellation of the selection and appointment of assistants (Grade II) by the University of Kerala about a year ago.

Participating in the discussion on the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (Second Amendment) Bill, the Opposition also demanded that the Minister should ask the university to withdraw the case filed by the university before the High Court challenging the findings of the Upa Lok Ayukta. The House witnessed noisy scenes as the Education Minister sought to reply to the Opposition demands.

The Minister said that the written test for selection of the assistants was conducted during the UDF rule (2005).

The government was willing to order an inquiry by the CBI into the disappearance of the answer sheets. “This government has nothing to hide. The toppers in the written test were the ones called for the interviews.”

Mr. Baby said that the Bill, which seeks to replace an ordinance issued earlier, was intended to maintain highest academic standards in the university. It provided for representation of teachers, students and the Higher Education Council in the university Syndicate. After the Minister’s reply, the House passed the Bill in the absence of the Opposition.