Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha is 14th Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese
Mangaluru: Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha ordained as the new Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese at Rosario Cathedral in the city on Saturday.
Archbishops of various states, including from Bengaluru, Goa; hundreds of devotees, religious leaders, dignitaries, and members of Christian Community, witnessed this historic ceremony that was held after 22 years in Mangaluru.
After performing various rituals of the religion, Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza and other Archbishops confirmed the willingness of Dr. Peter Paul D’Souza to take oath as the shepherd of the diocese and anointed him with holy oil.
Msgr Javier D Fernandez, representative of the Roman pope, read the Mandate from the Holy See in Latin. Fr Joseph Martis read the same in English, and Fr Victor D’Mello read it in Konkani.
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SIO Karnataka delegation flags RTE violations in KPS ‘Magnet’ school merger
Bengaluru: A delegation from the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) Karnataka visited KPS Honganuru and several other government schools to assess the ground realities surrounding the controversial KPS “Magnet” school merger policy.
During interactions with local teachers and school authorities, the delegation noted widespread outrage over the closure of neighbourhood schools and their proposed merger into select KPS institutions. Teachers expressed concern that the move would adversely affect access to education, particularly for children from marginalised communities.
SIO Karnataka stated that the closure of neighbourhood schools directly violates the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Citing Section 6 of the Act, the organisation emphasised that the government is legally bound to establish schools within walking distance of every child’s residence, a requirement undermined by the merger order.
The delegation also shared findings from a recent SIO-conducted survey with school authorities, highlighting several critical issues affecting government schools, including infrastructure gaps and accessibility concerns.
Reiterating its earlier opposition, SIO Karnataka condemned the closure of neighbourhood schools and urged the government to immediately withdraw the merger order.
The delegation comprised Mohammed Hayyan, State Secretary, SIO Karnataka; Abubakkar Siddiq, State Secretary, SIO Karnataka; and Mohammed Peer Latageri, ZAC Member, SIO Karnataka.
