Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday wondered what is wrong with the organisation of the women wall scheduled to be held in Kerala on January 1.
The government is not compelling anyone to attend the programme, the court observed while hearing a petition against the event. The government has only made a request to the staff members to attend it and this could not be construed as compelling them, it said.
It is for the individuals concerned to take a decision whether to take part in the wall or not, the court said. It, however, asked the government to clarify whether it was compulsory for the staff to take part in the wall or whether there is any punishment for the staff members not willing to attend it. The case was posted for further hearing on Thursday.
The court earlier expressed its displeasure over the wrong translation of the government order linked with the women wall by the petitioners giving an impression that the order makes it compulsory for the staff to attend the programme. When the counsel for the government pointed out the wrong translation, the petitioner’s counsel expressed regret over the matter.
The women wall, to uphold the values of Kerala renaissance, was mooted by a group of community organisations during a meeting convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The event will be held from Kasargod in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in south. The opposition UDF in Kerala, however, opposed it and says that it would only help in dividing society.
Meanwhile, the Government revised a circular requiring the allotment of funds by the Finance department to ensure logistics for the Women’s Wall. This followed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan denying in the Assembly the use of Government funds.
The Higher Secondary directorate on Thursday instructed higher secondary principals to attend reception committees being constituted in districts for organizing the Wall. The first meeting was supposed to take place on Friday was deferred owing to hartal.
