Thiruvananthapuram: A reply from The Public Administration Department (PAD) of Kerala towards queries by Indian Union Muslim League(IUML) MLAs' in State Legislative Assembly has proved that the State Government does not provide a salary or related benefits for Madrassa teachers in the state.
When asked whether Madrassa teachers are paid salary or allowances from the state treasury and sought clarification regarding their payments, the reply from PAD shows that the state does not pay them, but the management of the Madrasas they work under.
Further, the document asked whether PAD is aware that there are rumours spreading among social media that a generous amount of budget money is spent to pay Madrassa teachers. Also, it asked what action PAD has taken so far to inform people of the truth and whether the fact check team formed by the state government examined the issue.
The department replied that similar rumours had come to their notice and they had tried to inform people of the truth about it. The department also added that it will take further steps to make aware the public regarding the real facts on the issue.
The move from IUML MLA's comes in the backdrop of a judgement by Kerala HC on May 29, in which the Court directed that the scholarships given under minority department of the state should be distributed on the basis of the population of the minority communities.
In the judgement,The Court also said to cancel the 2015 state government order under which 80 per cent of the merit-cum-means scholarships went to the Muslim community and 20 per cent to the Christian community (Latin Catholic and converted Christians).
The contorversial verdict had also created rupture within ruling Left alliance-LDF and opposition alliance United Democratic Front(UDF) alike.
The Sangh Parivar and extreme Christian outfits have been spreading fake rumours that a generous amount of budget money is spent to pay Madrassa teachers in the southern state.
This also led Muslim League MLAs KPA Majeed, PK Basheer, Manjalamkuzhi Ali and Adv N Shamsudheen to ask these questions, which ultimately proved that such allegations are mere rumours and fake.