The Kerala High Court on 18 August 2014 said that only schools recommended by a six-member committee, with the approval of Higher Secondary Education Director, can start 'plus two' courses and additional batches in this academic year. Justice PR Ramachandran Menon while admitting 85 petitions challenging the government order sanctioning plus two schools and 411 additional batches said only those schools which have infrastructure facilities suggested by the government order shall be permitted to function. The court after perusing all files on grant of plus two schools and additional batches found that the evaluation for sanctioning of schools was not on the basis of merit. From the files it was not clear as to who suggested educational need when and where. Advocate General KP Dandapani had informed the court that opinion of all MLAs were sought. The AG had justified the government order pointing out that it was issued legally and the cabinet sub-committee considered the opinion of all MLAs on educational needs in their constituencies. Earlier Government failed to produce files relating to sanctioning of plus two schools and additional batches. It had also wanted to know why government schools were denied plus two courses. Muslim Education Society and others had approached the court stating that the plus two courses were not sanctioned based on the educational need of a locality and on the basis of recommendations of an expert committee. |
