THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Government repeats that they are sworn to implement the Supreme Court verdict. The same government is turning a blind eye towards another Supreme Court order-the one that might improve the standard of technical education.

The Supreme Court issued an order regarding the eligibility criteria for the promotion of Principal, Professor and Associate Professor in Government colleges from 2008. According to the order, those who attained the status of Professor and Associate Professor before March 5, 2010 can continue in the respective positions. The order also states that relaxation on PhD qualification may be allowed for those who started their service as lecturer before March 27, 1990 and those who turned 45 when the job notification was issued. Associate professors who entered the service can acquire PhD within 7 years and those who already got promotion shouldn’t be demoted, the court proposed. The court also made it clear that those who are not eligible under the said criteria shouldn’t be allowed promotion or salary increment.

Principal Secretary Usha Titus informed Chief Minister that she cannot accept the proposal from Minister K.T. Jaleel that’s against the Supreme Court verdict. K.T. Jaleel asked to demote 27 teachers which include 7 Principal, 9 Professors and 11 Associate Professors in his proposal. Minister’s file also proposed to promote 250 others and to allow 7 years relaxation period to those who got promotion before 2016, while the SC order said 2010. As this is against the Supreme Court verdict, Usha Titus recommended to promote 250 teachers without demoting anyone. Minister K.T Jaleel also asked to demote two Principals who got their promotion last month.

As the Supreme Court order was not implemented, colleges lost the accreditation of National Board Of Accreditation. 280 Students of Kollam TKM, a college with accreditation for all their courses, was able to get placement, whereas only 140 students were able to get a job in College of Engineering, Trivandrum.

According to All India Council for Technical Education, the eligibility criteria for the position of Principal are PhD and First Class in Post Graduation along with 15 years experience in teaching. For the post of Professor one should have similar education qualifications with 10 years experience in teaching.

Kerala High Court canceled the Government order of 2009 which allowed relaxations on AICTE’s proposed criteria. This resulted in the demotion of more than 100 teachers.

The teachers who got demoted approached the Supreme Court. The court ordered that the teachers who got promoted should not be demoted.

The Administrative Tribunal on November, 2017 ordered to prepare a new list for promotion, on the basis of Supreme Court verdict. But this order hasn’t been implemented until now.

“I have transferred the file over to the Chief Minister. Let him decide. He may also consider the statements of the officials. Supreme Court should be implemented.”, says Education Minister K.T. Jaleel.