DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Saturday urged the Centre to give a proper explanation to the questions raised by the Madras High Court with regard to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE Act.)
Answering questions, he said the legislation aimed at giving free education to children in the age group of six to 14. People were under the impression that there was a reservation of 25 per cent of seats even in private schools in all classes. However, for this year the law had come into force only for Standard I. This had caused confusion in the minds of many.
The High Court had said that the legislation was not clear as to what constituted a neighbourhood school.
The other questions which arose were whether parents could select the school of their choice for admitting their children; to whom should a complaint be made; and, who would supervise the implementation of the law.
It was for the Centre to give a proper explanation to these questions. Only then would the objective of the law be fulfilled and people benefited.
IAS transfers
To a question on the shifting and suspension of IAS officers in the State, Mr. Karunanidhi said P.R. Shampath, Commissioner for the Welfare of the Differently Abled, was the latest to be placed under suspension. After such proceedings would any other official open his mouth, he asked.
This was the fate of officers. Is any other example needed to show how democratic traditions were being trampled upon during the present rule, he asked.
