School bus and children for Nava Kerala Yatra: Why is government supporting culprits, asks HC

KOCHI: The government said in the High Court that the orders to take the school children to participate in the Nava Kerala Yatra and release the bus for the programme was a mistake by the officials. It also informed the court that the order was revoked. The High Court asked whether action shouldn't be taken against those who committed the mistake as the government itself said that the order was wrong. The single bench also asked whom the officers were trying to please. Justice Devan Ramachandran asked why the government was supporting the culprits.

The single bench was considering the petitions filed by Kasargod native Philip Joseph questioning the order of the director of public education to provide school buses for the Nava Kerala Yatra, and the petitions filed by MSF state president PK Nawaz against the order of the Malappuram DD to allow children to participate in the programme.

"If no action is taken against the officials, this will happen again in future. Saying that children should be made to participate in the programme is more serious than saying that buses should be provided. Children are the precious wealth of the country. Exploitative measures against them are unacceptable. Such orders degrade the dignity of children," the High Court said.