Latest news with #KER
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Plea against Aadhaar for school admissions: Kerala HC seeks state govt's views
Kochi: A high court division bench has directed the state govt to file a counter affidavit in an appeal challenging a single bench order which had upheld the state's directive requiring aided schools to provide the Aadhaar numbers of all students to prevent duplicity and bogus admissions. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and S Muralee Krishna further adjourned the appeal, which was filed by the manager of St Antony's LP School at Mala in Thrissur, to Aug 8. Earlier, the single bench had dismissed the petition filed by the manager challenging the requirement to furnish Aadhaar numbers of students while determining the sanctioned staff strength of the school. The single bench had observed that the state govt, while providing grant-in-aid, was justified in insisting upon the Aadhaar numbers of all students to avoid duplicity and bogus admissions, and that there was no illegality in such action. However, in the appeal, the manager contended that the Supreme Court, in the K S Puttaswamy case, had explicitly held that Aadhaar cannot be made mandatory for school admissions, as education is neither a service nor a subsidy. He further argued that denying education to children solely because they lack an Aadhaar number would violate their fundamental right to education under Article 21A of the Constitution. The petitioner's main grievance is that three students who were admitted to Class I do not possess UID Aadhaar numbers, and their admissions will not be considered for the purpose of sanctioning divisions and posts. Since no other student has joined Class I, and the school is classified as 'uneconomic,' no class division or teaching post will be sanctioned in light of the amended KER.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Imposition of pension cess by CESC violates spirit of power sector reforms, says MGP
The Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has said that the Pension and Gratuity cess being imposed by Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) since May was a violation of the spirit of power sector reforms. It places an unfair burden on consumers who had no role in agreements between the government and power sector employees. In a release, Bhamy V. Shenoy, founding president of the MGP, criticised the P&G cess, calling it legal but unethical. He said consumers using more than 200 units or those who opted out of free power have been charged an additional 36 paise a unit as the Pension and Gratuity cess. 'Though it was too late to reverse this charge without a massive public protest which is unlikely, registering dissent could deter future imposition of such levies in other forms in future,' said Mr. Shenoy. The Karnataka Electricity Reform (KER) Act, 2002, was enacted to separate power generation, transmission, and distribution, with the State government responsible for funding pensions and gratuities. However, in 2022, the BJP government amended the Act, permitting power companies to recover pension contributions through tariffs, said Mr. Shenoy. Though the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) initially rejected this move, citing the Act's original provisions, the Karnataka High Court upheld the amendment in March 2024, dismissing a challenge by the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Shenoy added. He pointed out that the move, while legally sanctioned, amounts to the government reneging on its commitment. 'While the power sector reform took place, the government had agreed to pay its share of pension contribution. Once an agreement is reached, breaking a solemn promise, though legal by amending the law, is unethical and highhanded,' he said. This precedent undermines the KERC's autonomy, the very body established to protect consumers from political interference in tariff decisions, according to the MGP. It also criticised all major political parties for their role in the issue and pointed out that the BJP amended the Act, the Congress government exploited the amendment to offset the cost of its free power scheme, one of its five guarantees. Underlining the imperatives of safeguarding the independence of the KERC to prevent misuse of tariff mechanism for political ends, Mr. Shenoy warned that future governments might impose similar levies for unrelated causes.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Commissioner of examinations can make changes to the caste and religion entries of students in SSLC book, rules Kerala high court
Kochi: High court has held that the commissioner of examinations has the authority to make changes to the caste and religion entries of students in their SSLC books under Rule 3(1), Chapter VI of the Kerala Education Rules (KER), 1959. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Justice D K Singh issued the ruling while allowing a petition filed by Sudhin Krishna C S of Palakkad, who sought a directive to the concerned authorities to change his name and religion in his SSLC book. The petitioner, born to a Muslim father and a Hindu mother, was originally named Mohammed Riyazudeen C S. After attaining majority, he chose not to follow Islam and began practising the Hindu religion, having been raised by his mother in accordance with Hindu tenets. He subsequently applied to the district educational officer seeking changes to his name and religion in the SSLC book, supported by relevant documents, including a certificate from the Arya Samajam, Kozhikode. However, the authorities rejected his request, citing an absence of provisions under the KER, 1959, for altering religious identity in the SSLC book. This led the petitioner to approach the high court. The govt pleader opposed the plea, arguing that no authority had been notified under Rule 3(1), Chapter VI of the KER to effect changes in the caste or religion columns, and that the commissioner of examinations was only authorised to alter the date of birth. The court, however, underscored that the petitioner has a fundamental right to practise a religion of his choice. If a person changes their religion voluntarily and without coercion, fraud, or undue influence, such an act is protected under the Preamble to the Constitution and Article 25, the court noted. Upon examining Rule 3(1), Chapter VI of the KER — titled 'Alteration of Date of Birth etc.' — the court observed that the scope of the rule is not limited to date of birth alone; it also allows for other changes, including religion and caste, to be effected by a competent authority. Accordingly, the court directed the authorities to carry out the changes as requested by the petitioner with respect to his name and religion in the SSLC book.
New Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala high schools set for more instructional hours in 2025-26
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has announced changes to the academic calendar for 2025-26, increasing school hours by 30 minutes from Monday to Thursday for the high school section. Additionally, two Saturdays will be designated as working days for the Upper Primary section, while six Saturdays will be set aside for the High School section. These adjustments are being made to meet the minimum instructional days required by education regulations. The decision comes after an ultimatum from the High Court to ensure that the number of instructional days is sufficient. The government acted quickly to finalise the new academic calendar just two days before schools are set to reopen on June 2. According to the Kerala Education Rules (KER), a minimum of 220 instructional days is mandated each year.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Permission of govt. required before alienating property of aided schools: HC
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court has observed that before the property of an aided school is alienated, permission shall be obtained from the State government or any officer authorised by it in this regard. The Bench made the observation while allowing an appeal by some teachers of a lower primary school in Manjeri against a single judge's order quashing the government order declining approval of a teacher nominated as manager by the person who purchased the school. The government had rejected approval on the ground that the owner of the property could only be made manager and a third party could not be appointed as the manager. The appellant contended that as owner N. Sidrathul Munthaha had not obtained any previous permission before obtaining title, the entire transaction is void under section 6(3) of the Kerala Education Act. The Bench observed that before an aided school's property is alienated, it is the mandate of the law that permission shall be obtained from the government or any officer authorised by the government in this regard, and such permission cannot be obtained merely by invoking Rule 5A of Chapter III of the Kerala Education Rules (KER), which is only a procedural rule enabling the recording of a change in ownership. The objective behind Section 6 of the Act is to ensure that the property belonging to an aided school is not alienated indiscriminately, jeopardizing the future of the students. The Bench also directed the government to reconsider the matter afresh under Section 6 of the Act as well as under Rule 5A of Chapter III of the KER.
