The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Call to define powers of local bodies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 31, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Call to define powers of local bodies

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: Ombudsman for Local Self-Government Institutions M.R. Hariharan Nair has stressed the need for defining the limits of management power of the local authorities in academic matters of educational institutions coming under their administration.

In an order passed on a case registered suo motu by it on the basis of newspaper reports that the Kalapakancherry and Edayoor grama panchayats had decided not to teach some lessons of the prescribed textbook for the seventh standard in schools coming within their jurisdiction, the ombudsman said that it was up to the government to take action to define the power of the local authorities in academic matters. He directed that a copy of the order be marked to the government secretary for the purpose.

As both the panchayats deposed that an expert committee appointed by the government was looking into the propriety of the lesson concerned and that their resolutions stood stayed by the government, the ombudsman dropped further action in the case.

When it registered the case, the ombudsman’s intention was to look into the legality of the decision taken by the two panchayats and whether it would amount to maladministration.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section