Do not reject additional Plus Two batches in the name of policy: HC

KOCHI: The High Court held that when the government's expert committee examines the educational need of an area and reports that additional Plus Two batches should be allotted, then the government cannot refuse it on the ground that it is against the policy decision. According to Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan, if the government rejects additional batches in the name of the policy, it will mean that the government is running away from the constitutional responsibility of providing education to its citizens

The single bench said this while issuing an order that three additional batches in Science, Humanities and Commerce subjects should be sanctioned in two months at Munniyoor Higher Secondary School in Malappuram district. The government had rejected an application by the School Manager of the Munniyoor Higher Secondary School for allotment of additional plus two batches here. Following this, the manager and a group of students filed petitions seeking more batches.

There are more than two thousand children in this school. About 750 students passed the last SSLC examination here. However, there are only 200 Plus One seats in the school. The regional expert committee also recommended allowing more batches considering the educational need in the region. However, the government rejected this demand citing the decision not to allow additional batches in the aided higher secondary sector due to financial constraints. The petitioners then approached the High Court.