KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday asked the state government to produce the document regarding the sanctioning of new Plus-Two batches in the state. Justice P N Ravindran sought the document while considering two petitions challenging sanctioning of new Plus-Two batches in the state. The court had, on Wednesday, asked the state government why there was delay in issuing the order sanctioning 699 Plus-Two batches, including upgradation and additional batches.
The petitions were filed by the corporate manager of St Joseph’s High School, Angamaly, Ernakulam, and manager of Noel Memorial High School, Kumbanad, Pathanamthitta District. According to the manager of St Joseph’s High School, the decision to sanction 699 batches of Plus-Two course was taken by the state cabinet on July 23 and a list of selected schools had been published on the the website of the Director of Higher Secondary Education.
‘’The government order is required to be issued within 24 hours of a decision of the state cabinet. However, the same has not yet been published because of a bickering in the Council of Ministers. Since the notification has not been issued as required, what is presently published is only the list of proposed schools,’’ petitioner submitted.
It is also alleged that the petitioner’s school was deleted from the list and Mar Augustine’s High School, Thuravoor, was inserted in the list overlooking the merit of the petitioner and without any data or materials. ‘’This was done at the instance of a member of the cabinet sub-committee,’’ it is alleged.
‘’At the same time, even without a government order, steps have been taken by the management of Mar Augustine, started inviting applications for admission of students and commencement of the classes,’’ it is alleged. The petitioner also sought a directive to the state government to sanction Plus-Two courses in favour of the petitioner school.