Lack of security; AEO refuses to shut school in Kozhikode

Kozhikode: Since the police department refused to give special security and protection, assistant education officer (AEO) K.S. Kusumam could not implement the Kerala High Court order to close down the Malaparamba Aided Upper Primary School here.

Expecting the AEO to enter the school premises with the police force, the School Protection Committee had gathered there and locked the school from all sides.

The HC had on Tuesday directed the state government to implement its order before May 27 on a plea by the manager of the school, under Clause 72 of the Kerala Education Act, permitting managers of uneconomical aided schools to shut giving prior notice to the education department a year before.

“Unless and until I get complete security and protection from the police I will not take any action,” Ms Kusumam said. “I visited the school a day before with the HC order, but the local people blocked my way.”

At the same time, assistant police commissioner T. Ashraf said the department had not received any direction to give special protection to the AEO. “We were directed to provide the police force to stop the agitators from not allowing the government officials to enter the institution,” he said.

“Since the AEO has not come to the campus, our forces were not deployed. But before May 27, the officials will visit the school and we will give the security required.”

The HC order says the manager has all the right to close down the school under the Kerala Education Act, which was "absolute and could not be interfered."
Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar issued the directive to state government when the contempt of court petition filed by school manager P.K. Padmarajan came up for the hearing.