The Hindu : Kerala News : Schools’ applications for NOCs to be considered high court round-up

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Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007
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Kerala

Schools’ applications for NOCs to be considered high court round-up

Special Correspondent

Kochi: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Tuesday declined to intervene in the implementation of a single judge’s directive to the State government to consider applications filed by private school managements for no-objection certificates (NOCs) to get affiliation from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

The Bench, comprising Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice K.T. Sankaran, considering an appeal filed by the government, was not inclined to accept its arguments.

The government said it had decided not to grant the certificates except in Muslim-dominated areas in Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kasaragod districts. It took the stand that because of the mushrooming of CBSE-affiliated schools, government and aided schools had to cut number of divisions because of fewer students joining them. The court said that was not a good reason for denying the certificates. If the government schools gave quality education, no student would go away. The court observed that poor people could not afford to study in CBSE-affiliated schools because of the higher fees. The State government should strive to provide free education to all children. It could not prevent schools from applying for the certificate.

The court directed the government to consider the applications within 15 days. However, the certificates would be issued subject to the final orders to be passed on the appeal.

Plea to recover body

A writ petition was filed seeking a directive to the government to get the body of Jaison, a lineman missing in the Panniyar tragedy, recovered. The petitioner, Sajeev Janardananan, general secretary of the Kerala Electricity Employees’ Federation, also sought a directive to the government to pay Rs. 5 lakh to the family of Jaison. The petitioner said seven bodies were recovered and the families of these victims were paid Rs. 5 lakh each. But there was an inordinate delay in recovering the body of Jaison and paying compensation.

Notice issued

The court issued notice to the Kottayam municipality and other respondents on a petition seeking to stop the construction of a flat which allegedly caused the death of two nuns of the Fathima Matha Convent at Nagampadam in Kottayam. The nuns were killed when hollow bricks from the flat fell on them. The petitioner, P.I. Das, alleged that the flat was being constructed in violation of the building rules and the municipality laws.

Plea dismissed

Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan dismissed a petition filed by the wife of Manichan, convict in the Kalluvathukal hooch tragedy, challenging revenue-recovery proceedings initiated against her husband for tax arrears of Rs. 8 crore.

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