KOCHI: The area where the school is situated is a backward and tribal area. As per the government policy, High Schools situated in backward area has got preference in the matter of upgradation as Higher Secondary Schools.
The expert committee appointed by the Government recommended upgradation of the school as Higher Secondary School. But, ignoring that recommendation of the expert committee, the government did not include it in the list of shools to be upgraded as Higher Secondary Schools from Varandarappilly panchayat in Thrissur.
When the court asked why government schools were denied plus one batches, the Advocate General K P Dandapani submitted that the government had to consider the fact that there are students who are awaiting admissions in nearby private management schools.
The government may err with regard to one or two schools while sanctioning around 700 schools, the AG submitted. Out of the 95 petitions in the HC, around 25 of them relate to schools who were denied plus one batches even after being recommended by a committee headed by Higher Secondary School Director. The court flayed the Advocate General for making flimsy submissions justifying government stand. When the court observed that if the recommendations of HSS director have been overlooked by the Cabinet sub-committee, there should be a reason, AG stated those issues surfaced in the last stage. Reacting to this, the court stated that AG was making flimsy submissions.
AG justified the state’s order pointing out that it was issued legally and the Cabinet sub-committee considered the opinion of all MLAs regarding the education needs in their constituencies. To which the court asked to produce the details regarding recommendations of MLAs in this regard.