The Hindu : Kerala News : UDF: evolve consensus on admissions

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Sunday, Jul 30, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

UDF: evolve consensus on admissions

Special Correspondent

`Observations of minorities panel should not be ignored'

Thiruvananthapuram: Leaders of the United Democratic Front (UDF) have urged the State Government and managements of self-financing professional colleges to accept the Kerala High Court ruling on admissions to professional courses and bring about a consensus through discussions to ensure hassle-free enrolment of students.

In a statement here on Saturday, UDF convener P.P. Thankachan said it would be better to resolve the issue through a consensus in the larger interests of students.

He said it would be improper on the part of the Government to ignore the observations of the National Minority Commission that some of the provisions of the Kerala professional colleges Act were against the interests of minority communities and needed to be amended.

He said the UDF was not against bringing in controls on the management, besides safeguarding the Constitutionally mandated rights of the minority communities. The High Court ruling had upheld the UDF's consistent stand on the professional colleges issue and the apprehensions it expressed in the Assembly during the course of the debate on the Kerala professional colleges Bill.

The Kerala Congress (M) leader K.M. Mani said the High Court verdict had pinpointed the inefficiencies and insufficiencies in the legislation brought in by the Government. The ruling was a clearing declaration that the Government's move in bringing in the legislation was wrong.

The Single Bench and the Division Bench had given their rulings, taking a cue from the Supreme Court orders restoring status quo in the 50:50 quota for management and Government seats.

He said the Government's decision to file an appeal in the Supreme Court would be a futile attempt. The Government should not stand on false prestige and should take the initiative to bring about a consensus on the admission issue and safeguard the interests of the students seeking admissions to professional colleges.

Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) president K. Muraleedharan said the Government should come forward to hold discussions with the managements and make an attempt to solve the uncertainties in the higher education sector.

Congress Legislature Party secretary K.C. Joseph said the Government should give up its plan to continue its legal battle on the professional colleges issue in the larger interests of the students.

He feared that the students seeking admissions to higher education courses might lose a year if the Government got involved in legal battles. He said the legal battles would only end up as actions helping the education lobby from the neighbouring States.

He said Minister for Education M.A. Baby was responsible for the current impasse, as he had refused to accept the constructive amendments to the professional colleges Bill and the sentiments expressed in the Assembly and outside. He demanded the Education Minister's resignation.

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