Minority institutions in K'taka petition against State Govt

Bangalore, Aug 31 (UNI) The Karnataka State Minority Educational Institutions Management Federation today petitioned the National Minorities Commission for Education that the State Government was adopting ''hostile'' policies against minority institutions in violation of the rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

In a memorandum submitted to Commission Chairman Mr Justice M S A Siddiqui here, Federation Chairman Mohammed Imtiyaz said due to the ''hostile'' attitude of the State Education department, many educational institutions run by minorities were being closed down.

He alleged that eventhough Section 141 of the Karnataka Education Act, 1995, was clear as far as rights of minority educational institutions were concerned, the State officials were issuing circulars which went against the spirit of Article 30 of the Constitution in running the institutions.

The Federation demanded the intervention of the Commission in withdrawing a notification issued by the State Government recently, empowering the Government to take over the managements through Requisitioning and Acquisitions Rules, 2005, under the Act, and against the State policy to reserve 50 per cent seats in minority institutions for other religious students.

Describing the State's language policy as unconstitutional and illegal, the Federation objected to the policy, which stipulated the medium of instruction as Kannada at the primary level even for minority educational institutions.

Mr Justice Siddiqui assured to take up the matter seriously with the State Government.

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