A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday quashed a government order (GO) sanctioning additional batches in the government and aided higher secondary schools.
The government had earlier decided not to grant higher secondary schools during the academic year 2014-15.
Quashing the government order, the Bench comprising Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair and Justice P.V. Asha directed the State government to expedite allotment of higher secondary schools (HSSs) in 148 grama panchayats which did not have HSSs to enable students to get admission this year itself.
The Bench ordered the government to take up simultaneously the sanctioning of additional batches in schools in eight northern districts and upgrading of the schools there as HSSs. The Bench also wanted the State to consider granting additional batches in schools in any other areas, if there was any necessity, depending on the educational needs.
The court issued the directives while allowing a batch of appeals and writ petitions filed by the managers of higher secondary schools challenging the government decision.
DiscriminationThe court said that if a decision was taken to increase the batches in the existing higher secondary schools without providing such facilities in the 148 panchayats which did not have higher secondary schools, it would result in discrimination. The court said that the government did not have any data or conducted any study before taking the decision. The State argued that it had reviewed its earlier decision in the light of the financial commitment involved in upgrading higher secondary schools.
