Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty has said the government will file a revision petition against the Supreme Court order directing the state to ensure that Lower Primary (LP) schools are available within a one-kilometre radius and Upper Primary (UP) schools within a three-kilometre radius for all students.

Responding to questions on whether an LP school would be sanctioned in Elambra in Malappuram’s Manjeri Municipality within three months, the Minister said he would comment only after receiving a copy of the judgment.

Sivankutty admitted that the state had not been able to present its argument effectively before the court and added that a revision petition would be filed to protect Kerala’s public education system.

Under the norms of the Right to Education Act, the Supreme Court has directed the state to take action within six months to start primary schools in areas lacking permanent buildings. Temporary structures may be used until permanent facilities are set up, and retired teachers can be appointed on an interim basis until regular staff are hired.

The court clarified that the requirement applies only to government schools and not to aided institutions. The bench, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, criticised the state for insisting that new schools can be sanctioned only under the Kerala Education Rules (KER), and questioned why a state with 100 per cent literacy was opposing the establishment of schools.