CM should not chair MoI issue in Edu Council: NCP
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 27 June 2013 16:30 IST
The Nationalist Congress Party has suggested that chief minister Manohar Parrikar should not chair the meeting of the Education Advisory Council, when it decides about the Medium of Instruction issue.
Parrikar had yesterday flayed NCP’s objection to the chief minister heading the education advisory council, clarifying that both the central and state acts make it mandatory that the education minister head the council.
Trajano D’Mello, the chief spokesperson of the local NCP, had earlier stated that this would mean Parrikar, as the council head, would recommend to Parrikar, as the chief minister, on the MoI issue.
In reply to CM’s reaction, D’Mello today said he does not deny that the acts provide for this appointment, but felt that it is against the principles of natural justice.
Following basic principles of jurisprudence, D’Mello felt that no person, who is having direct or indirect interest regarding the issue, should be the part of such a body.
Going against public opposition, Parrikar had decided to continue salary grants to the 130 Church-run primary schools in English medium, the policy adopted by the erstwhile Congress-NCP government.
The final decision in this regard was to be taken by the education advisory council.
While the constitution of the council was delayed by almost over one year, Parrikar has now announced forming the council, with him as its chairman, since he is the education minister.
The laws provide that education minister heads the council.
Though the council is the recommendatory body, D’Mello says it would mean Parrikar – as the education minister and council chairman – recommending it to the government, which is again headed by Parrikar as the chief minister.
D’Mello thus felt that Parrikar should remain out of the council at least while deciding on the MoI issue, since he has already decided his mind on the issue earlier.
The NCP chief spokesperson also demanded that no person, who has earlier expressed public opinion on the MoI issue, be made part of the council.
The council would consist of academic experts.
