Kerala to formally object UGC draft curriculum, flags Sangh Parivar influence: Report
Kerala to formally object UGC draft curriculum, flags Sangh Parivar influence: Report
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is poised to formally convey its objections to the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) draft Learning Outcomes-based Curriculum Framework, claiming that the proposed framework undermines scientific principles and promotes an ideological agenda aligned with the Sangh Parivar.
The Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) will review the draft framework and prepare a report for the state government, which will form Kerala’s official response, as reported by India Today on Wednesday.
The UGC recently released the draft curriculum for nine subjects, including Anthropology, Chemistry, Commerce, Economics, Geology, Home Science, Mathematics, Physical Education, and Political Science.
Key elements of the draft curriculum have raised concerns, including proposals to encourage students to analyse concepts such as "Ram Rajya" and study ancient texts such as the Upanishads, Mahabharata, and Arthashastra as resources for sustainable development.
Additionally, the proposal suggests including the biographies of RSS ideologue VD Savarkar and Deendayal Upadhyaya in the BA Political Science elective course, added the report.
This move comes after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had previously expressed concerns in January, criticising the UGC's 2025 draft regulations for violating states' constitutional rights.
Speaking to the media, Vijayan said the government had written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and reached out to non-BJP Chief Ministers to collectively oppose the draft. He called the proposed framework an example of “political arrogance” that sidelines state governments, which bear about 75% of education expenditure.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
'Someone must be held accountable': HC converts civil suit on Goa nightclub tragedy into PIL
Panaji (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday converted a civil suit against Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) saying "someone has to be held accountable" for the tragedy in which 25 people were killed.In a stern observation, Goa bench of the High Court of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ashish Chavan said the local panchayat had "failed to take suo motu cognisance" of the club and had taken "no action despite complaints."
The division bench directed the Goa government to file a detailed reply on the permissions granted to the nightclub.
The High Court, while fixing January 8 as the next date of hearing, pointed out that commercial operations were continuing in the structure despite it having been served a demolition order.
The original petition was filed after the December 6 tragedy by Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, the owners of the land on which the nightclub was operating.
ALSO READ: Veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa laid to rest with full state honours
Advocate Rohit Bras de Sa, the lawyer representing the petitioner, was made amicus curiae in the matter and has been asked to file a detailed affidavit in the matter.
In their petition, Amonkar and Divkar highlighted "the alarming pattern of statutory violations that have remained inadequately addressed despite multiple complaints, inspections, show-cause notices, and even a demolition order".
They contended that these violations posed "immediate threats to public safety, ecological integrity, and the rule of law in the state of Goa."
Investigations by multiple agencies into the nightclub fire have revealed various irregularities, including lack of permissions to operate the nightclub.
The Goa police arrested five managers and staff members of the club, while co-owners Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra have been detained in Thailand after they fled the country.
