The Hindu : Front Page : Submit objections to Act, Church told

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Thursday, Sep 21, 2006
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Submit objections to Act, Church told

Special Correspondent

Council turns down suggestion to form panel of legal experts to sort out differences

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has asked the Inter-Church Educational Council to submit their objections to the provisions in self-financing colleges Act within a fortnight.

Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan, Education Minister M. A. Baby, Water Resources Minister N. K. Premachandran, Forest Minister Benoy Viswom and Transport Minister Mathew T. Thomas had a meeting with council leaders at the Chief Minister's chamber at the legislature complex on Wednesday.

Council chairman and Changanassery Arch Bishop Mar Joseph Powathil told reporters that in the course of the talks, Mr. Achuthanandan suggested that a panel of legal experts representing the Government and the managements could be formed to sort out the differences over the Act, but the council leaders refused to accept the suggestions since they felt it was not feasible. Constitution of a panel would only lead to further arguments and would not yield any positive result, he said.

The council leaders stuck to their stand that they were not ready for any compromise on minority rights granted in the Constitution. Even if the Government was ready to amend the Act, the council was not ready to accept any alternative that would have a bearing on minority rights. "The Government need not award minority status to anyone. The onus was on the Government to protect the rights of such communities," he said.

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