HC on plus-two issue: CPI-M demands Chandy's resignation

Thiruvananthapuram: Seizing on the High Court verdict on plus-two issue, the CPI-M Monday demanded resignation of the Oommen Chandy Government.

CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the verdict was a grim blow to "corruption, nepotism and the policy of pandering to communal and casteist interests by the UDF Government."

With this order, the Government had lost the moral right to remain in office and should resign without waiting for a moment, Vijayan said in a statement.

Voicing the same demand, Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said the court order vindicated the LDF's stand that allocation of higher secondary courses to aided schools was steeped in corruption.

Since the decision was taken by a cabinet state committee, the Chief Minister could not also absolve himself and he should step down.

Meanwhile, state Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb said he would react to the development after studying the verdict.

Admitting several petitions challenging the government order sanctioning plus two schools and 411 additional batches, the court today said only schools recommended by a six-member expert committee, which had received approval of Higher Secondary Education Director, can be given sanction to start plus two courses and additional batches this year.