Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala General Education and Labour Minister V Sivankutty on Wednesday reiterated that the state government will not compromise on the legal framework governing appointments in aided schools.

Addressing ongoing protests by certain school managements, the minister said all government actions strictly comply with the Kerala Education Act, 1958, and the Kerala Education Rules, 1959.

“The authority to appoint teachers and staff lies solely with the school management. The government's role is limited to approving those appointments. If there are disputes, it is the management who must approach the courts. Blaming the government for evading responsibility is not right,” Sivankutty said.

He noted that a case regarding the appointment of differently-abled persons has been pending in the High Court since 2021. “The management must explain what steps they took in the last four years. After remaining Inactive, it is unfair to suddenly accuse the government,” he added.

Sivankutty cautioned against attempts to politicise the controversy by disregarding court verdicts and the legal advice of the Advocate General. He alleged that those who seize every opportunity to protest against the LDF government are behind the present agitation.

Reiterating the government’s priorities, Sivankutty said the administration is committed to safeguarding the interests of both students and teachers, while respecting the lawful rights of private managements. “But no violation of the law will be tolerated,” he emphasised.

Kerala has 7,277 aided schools, according to the state legislature, out of a total of 12,644 schools, which include 4,504 government schools and 863 unaided institutions. Aided schools are non-government schools that receive financial assistance and staff salaries from the government, while the management retains authority over teacher appointments and institutional administration.

IANS