The Hindu : Kerala News : Decision on grading system within 10 days

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Decision on grading system within 10 days

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, SEPT. 13. The Government today informed a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court that the Cabinet was likely to take a decision on whether the grading system for the SSLC examination should be re-introduced or not within 10 days.

The Bench comprising the Chief Justice, N. K. Sodhi, and Justice A.K. Basheer was informed by the Additional Advocate General, V.K. Beeran, that the matter was under the active consideration of the Government, when a writ petition seeking a directive to the State Government to re-introduce the system came up.

The petition was filed by P. Vishnu Prasad, president, Karunya Charitable Trust, Kochi and M.V Jose, Mahatma Gandhi University Senate member.

According to the petitioners, the State Government had already spent Rs. 3 crores for introducing the system. However, now the Government had decided to scrap the system. The petitioner sought a directive to the Government to submit a report on the decisions on the introduction of grading system.

The petition also sought to recover the amount spent by the Government for introducing the system from officials responsible for recommending against the introduction of the system. The system consisted of written test, internal assessment, assessment of extra curricular activities and individual development.

Instead of a single examination, there would have continuous examinations under the system. In fact, the teachers were given training for the system and student prepared various project reports under the system, the petitioner submitted. The petition had been adjourned to September 27.

Health centres

The Health Secretary today informed the Bench that all vacant posts in the Community Health Centre at Vengola, near Perumbavoor, had been filled. He said that at present only the post of radiologists was lying vacant. As soon as the X-ray machine was repaired, a radiologist would be appointed.

He also pointed that the administration of the hospitals and health centres came within the purview of local self-Government institutions.

The submission was made when a writ petition seeking a directive to post sufficient number of staff and doctors at the centre came up.

The court also directed the secretary, Vazhakulam block panchayat, to appear in person before the court on October 11.The Health Secretary appeared today before the court as ordered by the court.

MCH facilities

The Bench also directed the Kottayam District Collector in his capacity as the Chairman of the Hospital Development Society to file an affidavit about the lack of infrastructure facilities and other problems in the Kottayam Medical College Hospital (MCH) and also the proposed steps to overcome the problems.

The directive was issued when a writ petition filed by the Kottayam Medical College Samrakshana Samithi came up before the Bench.

In an affidavit, the Medical College Superintendent had denied the allegations of the petitioner.

However, the court noted that the affidavit did not say anything about the facilities being provided at the hospital. The affidavit admitted that there was a shortage of medicines and that the facilities available at the medical college were inadequate.

Contempt charge

Justice G. Sasidharan has initiated contempt of court proceedings against P.R. Sreedharan, Additional Sub-divisional officer and Executive Magistrate, Agatti Island in Lakshwadeep, for disobeying the High Court order.

The case had been referred to a Division Bench for framing "draft charges" against him. The proceedings were initiated on a petition filed by M.K. Ummer Koya of Agatti Island.

According to him, the High Court had earlier quashed the magistrate's order taking over possession of four Madrassas on the island following dispute over the property of the Madrassas.

Mr. Koya said that despite the High Court order, the magistrate had not handed over the Madrassas to him. The court found that there was "intentional disseverance" of the court order by the magistrate.

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