Parents move Kerala High Court against politicians calling education stir

KOLLAM: Two parents here have filed a petition in the Kerala High Court questioning politicians calling education strike which they claimed is contempt of court. They pointed out that P.C. Vishnunath, who is not the leader of any student union, had violated a court order of 1996 by calling an education strike on behalf of the Kerala Students Union (KSU). The petitioners K.G. Biju and S. Yahiya have their children studying in Government HSS Thattathumala here.

“It's for the first time in Kerala a political leader calling students to strike. Such weird practises will give way for others to follow his path which is dangerous. We have the support of other parents too on this,” said Mr Biju, also the school's PTA president. He alleged that these strikes never affected the private colleges, whereas government school students are at the receiving end.

“Mr Vishnunath had also called for a protest on September 26, and we witnessed outsiders entering the campus and disrupting classes. This time, we sought the help of police and the classes went on smoothly.” He says the call is a violation of the court order against politicians interfering in academics and is a contempt of court. It is also a threat to the fundamental right to education.