Kerala CM Oomen Chandy takes on High Court over Plus-2 notice to ministers

At the cabinet briefing here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister criticised the judges for slapping a notice on a ministerial sub-committee headed by Education Minister P.K. Abdu Rabb, on whose advice the cabinet had sanctioned some 700 new Plus- Two (higher secondary) batches and schools.

The judges had on August 18 criticised the cabinet sub-committee blaming it for overlooking the list recommending 640 batches drawn up by the higher secondary director. It also directed the government to go by the official’s list. Mr Chandy wondered whether ministers were supposed to do only what an officer prescribed.

“We don’t agree with the court’s stand. If we are asked to accept the list sent by the higher secondary director in toto, then what is the need for a democratic administrative set-up? We respect the court verdict but we will present our version. I feel that legally it was not correct to send the notice to the cabinet sub-committee. It should have been sent to me,”' he added.

While the cabinet on Wednesday decided to go in for appeal against the High Court verdict on the Plus-Two issue, it also directed the higher secondary education director to continue with the admission process in all courses and batches that had been sanctioned complying with the court direction.