The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Police protection for MGU VC

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Saturday, Aug 23, 2008
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Police protection for MGU VC

Kochi: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday directed the police to provide protection to the life and property of Mahatma Gandhi University Vice-Chancellor Jancy James and to enable her to perform her duties.

The Bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice A.K. Basheer made it clear that if there was any “default” on the part of the police, it would be “viewed seriously.” The court ordered that no agitators be allowed to enter her chamber without her permission.

The directives came on a writ petition filed by the Vice-Chancellor. According to her, she was gheraoed by Students Federation of India (SFI) activists on August 18. She alleged that the agitators raised slogans against her and that an SFI State committee member had attempted to push her while she was coming out of her chamber. She had gone on leave after the incident, fearing an attack. Though the police was called in, they did not take any action.

A crime was registered after she lodged a complaint with the police. She said that though she had approached the police seeking protection to discharge her duties, no action was taken.

Surcharge challenged

Justice K.M. Joseph adjourned to September 16 the hearing on a writ petition challenging the imposition of thermal surcharge on high tension and extra high tension electricity consumers.

The petition was filed by the Association of High Tension and Extra High Tension Electricity Consumers.

The petitioner said that the decision of the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission to impose the thermal surcharge of 50 paise per unit on the total consumption of electricity was illegal.

The commission had no authority to impose such a surcharge. The laws did not permit the commission to impose thermal surcharge on a directive of the State government., the petition said

Allotment

The court adjourned to next week a writ petition challenging the government order on supplementary allotment for filling vacant seats in higher secondary schools.

The government order said that all students who got admission up to the fourth allotment would continue as permanent admission and they would be given a chance to change the courses or combination of courses, if required, within the school. Supplemetary allotment would be done for students in the waiting list.

The government order made it clear that only those students who renewed their candidature or registered fresh option alone would be considered for supplementary allocation.

The petitioner said the government had really taken away the benefits of the single-window system.

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