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CET issue: House adjourned

PUDUCHERRY: Speaker of the Puducherry Assembly R. Radhakrishnan on Thursday adjourned the proceedings of the House for over an hour, following the plea made by members belonging to the Opposition parties including the DMK to discuss the issues relating to the Lieutenant Governor raising certain queries on the government’s decision to cancel the Common Entrance Test (CET) from the coming academic year.

They also made a fervent plea to the government not to go back on its decision to select the candidates for the professional courses on the basis of the marks scored by them in the Plus Two public examination.

Shortly after a meeting attended by all the legislators at the Speaker’s chamber, Chief Minister N.Rangasamy announced that the government was taking all necessary steps to implement its decision.

He expressed the hope that a Secretary to government, who would fly to Port Blair on Friday, would submit all the details sought by the Lt. Governor and get his approval.

Education Minister M.O.H.F.Shahjahan made it clear that the government was firm in its decision to cancel the CET.

Raising the issue during the zero hour, S.P. Sivakumar (DMK) said he had received “shocking information” that the Lt. Governor had not approved the decision on cancelling the CET and returned the file on the ground that the new system for admissions for professional courses could be considered for implementation from next academic year.

This went against the will of the elected representatives of the people, he said, adding that the DMK was not prepared for any compromise on the issue.

He pleaded with the Chair to adjourn the House.

Intervening, Mr. Rangasamy said the Lt. Governor had asked for some clarifications on the modalities of implementation of the new system in the Union Territory as certain number of seats had been earmarked for Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions. Steps would be taken to get the Lt. Governor’s approval after submitting necessary details, he added.

Members belonging to the DMK, the AIADMK, the PMK, the CPI and the MDMK were on their feet seeking a categorical reply from the government.

Recalling Mr. Shahjahan’s announcement in the Assembly on Friday that the G.O. on cancellation of the CET would be issued on Monday, Leader of the Opposition A.M.H. Nazeem (DMK) said the moral authority of the Speaker had been infringed as the decisions announced in the Assembly could not be implemented.

As the House re-assembled, Mr.Shahjahan said the Lt. Governor had returned the file seeking some clarifications. Necessary steps would be taken to get his approval by explaining to him that the seats were earmarked on the basis of the population of the regions in the Union Territory.

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