School manager appointment: HC notice to Kerala education minister

Kochi: High court has issued notice to general education minister V Sivankutty in connection with a plea alleging undue interference in the appointment of the manager of Rama Varma Shashtiabdapoorthi Memorial Higher Secondary School (RVSMHSS) at Prayar in Alappuzha.The matter came up before the bench of Justice D K Singh on Monday, which adjourned the case to June 20 for further consideration. The petition was filed by A V Vimalchand of Prayar, challenging the temporary approval granted by the state govt to P Balachandran as manager of the aided school. The dispute arose after both Vimalchand and Balachandran submitted rival claims to the post before the district educational officer (DEO), who rejected both claims. Both parties subsequently filed appeals before the director of general education (DGE), which were reserved for orders on April 14.Vimalchand contended that while the appeals were still pending, Balachandran secured temporary approval from the govt based on a representation submitted directly to minister Sivankutty. He alleged that this move bypassed the statutory process laid down under the Kerala Education Rules and amounted to a ‘frog leap' over the proper appellate mechanism. He thereafter sought to implead the minister in the proceedings, which the court allowed.