SERIOUS BUSINESS: Representatives of the Inter-Church Educational Council with Education Minister M.A. Baby after the talks they had with the Government on the provisions of the Kerala professional colleges Act in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has asked the Inter-Church Educational Council to submit their objections to the provisions in self-financing colleges Act within a fortnight.

Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan, Education Minister M. A. Baby, Water Resources Minister N. K. Premachandran, Forest Minister Benoy Viswom and Transport Minister Mathew T. Thomas had a meeting with council leaders at the Chief Minister's chamber at the legislature complex on Wednesday.

Council chairman and Changanassery Arch Bishop Mar Joseph Powathil told reporters that in the course of the talks, Mr. Achuthanandan suggested that a panel of legal experts representing the Government and the managements could be formed to sort out the differences over the Act, but the council leaders refused to accept the suggestions since they felt it was not feasible. Constitution of a panel would only lead to further arguments and would not yield any positive result, he said.

The council leaders stuck to their stand that they were not ready for any compromise on minority rights granted in the Constitution. Even if the Government was ready to amend the Act, the council was not ready to accept any alternative that would have a bearing on minority rights.

"The Government need not award minority status to anyone. The onus was on the Government to protect the rights of such communities," he said.

The council leaders said they would go ahead with the case and had not fixed any date for further talks with the Government. Mar Thoma Suffragon Joseph Mar Irenios, Thiruvalla Arch Bishop Issac Mar Clemis, Thrissur Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Thazhathil, Fr. Philip Njerelekkad and Fr.John Thadathil were among those who attended the talks.

When the council leaders came out to address the media after the talks, the security staff denied permission. This led to a scuffle between the security staff and mediapersons. The council leaders later addressed the media at the Lourde Church near P.M.G. Junction.

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