UDF asks Govt not to approach SC on HC order on SFC

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 4: The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala today asked the Government to be ''practical and keep in view social justice'' with regard to self-financing professional colleges instead of going to the Supreme Court against the High Court verdict quashing sections of the Kerala Self Financing Professional Colleges Act.

''The Left Democratic Front Government should not go for an appeal in the Supreme Court. Instead they should approach the issue with a practical mind taking into account the amendments put forward by the UDF during the discussion of the Act in the state Assembly and also considering the previous Act that was brought in by the UDF Government,'' Opposition leader Oommen Chandy told reporters here.

In a major setback to the State Government, the HC quashed four important sections in the Kerala Self-Financing Professional Colleges Act, terming them ''invalid and unconstitutional.'' It termed Section 3, 7, 8 and 10, relating to admission procedures, fees structure, power of government to decide the minority status of colleges and reservation to various communities, including SC/ST as ''invalid and unconstitutional.'' Stating that higher education was in chaos under the seven-month long LDF Government, Mr Chandy said, ''if the government goes for an appeal, it will lead to more trouble. Last year, during the time of admission to professional colleges, there were certain uncertainties which led students to neighbouring states.'' ''If the government again goes for an appeal, it will lead to confusion among students and parents and would hamper this year's admission procedure,'' he said.

Saying the Kerala Self Financing Professional Colleges Act, 2006, had itself become ''invalid'' after the HC quashed important sections, he said the UDF during a discussion in the Assembly had sought amendments in these sections but the LDF, with the House majority, rejected it. During the discussions, State Education Minister M A Baby had said the Act was drafted after consulting constitutional experts and had added the Act would ensure transparency to all issues on self- financing professional colleges.

''Today the HC verdict only clarifies that Mr Baby was wrong in his statements and the UDF's stand was the right. Mr Baby has the moral duty to explain to the people,'' Mr Chandy said.

When asked why the UDF had then voted in favour of the Act in the Assembly, he said the UDF had done this as it only opposed certain sections. The UDF was confident these sections would not stand and now they had been quashed by the HC, he said.

Pointing out that the only solution was to adhere to the UDF's policies, Mr Chandy said ''the only solution is the Act that the UDF Government brought in. It had put forward the 50:50 ratio regarding admission and fee structure, which is the only practical solution.'' No self-financing professional college would permit students in government fees for all seats, as demanded by the LDF, he added.

Even in the B-Ed institutes run by the government, the government fees could not be maintained.

Asked if Mr Baby should resign, Mr Chandy said it was for the Education Minister to decide.

UNI