Kerala to include lesson on Governor's powers in school syllabus
Amid growing friction between the Kerala government and Raj Bhavan, state general education minister V Sivankutty said a lesson on the constitutional powers and duties of Governors would soon be a part of the school curriculum. In Kerala, the office of Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who took charge in January and who was seen to initially enjoy cordial relations with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan(PTI)
The announcement came just a day after Sivankutty walked out of an event at the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram protesting against the display of a portrait of 'Bharat Mata', associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on the dais.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Sivankutty said that the lesson explaining the constitutional rights and duties of Governors in India would be included in the second volume of social science textbooks for class 10 students this year. The chapter will be added to textbooks for students of classes 11 and 12 as part of curriculum revision as well, he added.
'Schools are the ideal place to learn the values of democracy. School curriculum is being revised while upholding constitutional values. In the country today, efforts to destabilise elected state governments through governors are rising. The Supreme Court has recently made it clear what the constitutional rights of governors are,' the minister said.
His reference was to the Supreme Court's ruling on April 8 that set a timeline for Governors to clear state bills or refer them to the President. It also set a timeline for the President to clear them. The President has sought a Presidential Reference on the judgement.
The court's ruling came after the state of Tamil Nadu approached it citing the alleged obstructionist behaviour of Governor R N Ravi. Several states governed by parties opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party have seen clashes between the elected government and the Governor, whose powers are limited under the Constitution.
When asked if the decision had anything to do with the ongoing row with the Raj Bhavan over the use of the 'Bharat Mata' portrait, the minister replied, 'I strongly feel students must learn and understand the duties of governors. That's why we have decided to include the chapter. It is a part of constitution. It is true that governors are interfering a lot. Students must be taught the right things.'
In Kerala, the office of Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who took charge in January and who was seen to initially enjoy cordial relations with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan -- especially when compared to the former Governor Arif Mohammed Khan -- has been locked in a tussle with the LDF government over the usage of a portrait of 'Bharat Mata' , showing a woman holding a saffron flag astride a lion at official events. The CM and ministers of the state government have argued that the portrait is associated with the RSS, the ideological fount of the BJP, and its display at official government events is inappropriate and violative of secular values.
On Thursday, Sivankutty walked out in the middle of an event at the Raj Bhavan to honour scouts and guides after objecting to the display of the portrait. Later, he argued that Indian nationalism draws its strength from its diversity of languages, religions, regions, cultures etc. None of these can be contained within a narrow or unified image, he said.
'Calling the image of a woman carrying a saffron flag the sole symbol of Indian patriotism ignores this basic reality,' he added.
Raj Bhavan issued a statement claiming that the minister's 'staged walkout' was a 'gross violation of protocol and a grave insult to the office of the Governor'. The Governor also said that there was 'no question of doing away with Bharat Mata as we draw our idea of patriotism and nationhood' from it.
The office of the Governor said the minister's actions set a wrong precedent and that it viewed the developments with utmost concern.
The row also spilled out onto the streets of Thiruvananthapuram with the SFI, student wing of CPI(M), taking a protest march to Raj Bhavan. In response, ABVP, the student wing of the RSS, displayed black flags as a convoy of the general education minister passed by.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
20 minutes ago
- Hans India
Udupi in-charge minister calls Hindu activist Sulibele a ‘liar'
Udupi district is witnessing a political row after district in-charge minister Laxmi Hebbalkar on Friday accused Hindu activist and author Chakravarthy Sulibele of spreading 'lies' and warned against attempts to disturb communal harmony during his upcoming public events. Hebbalkar, addressing reporters in Udupi, said, 'Udupi is a district of peace lovers. No one should be allowed to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere.' She added that while the Congress supports freedom of expression and constitutional values, it does not condone hate speech. Her remarks came a day after Kundapur police served Sulibele a notice ahead of his three-day lecture series at Mogaveera Bhavana in Kundapur from June 20 to 22. The event, organised by Yuva Brigade, is themed 'Let us rest only after making a unified greater India' (Akhand Bharat). Sulibele is scheduled to speak at 6 pm on all three days. The police advisory instructs Sulibele to restrict his speech to the announced topic and avoid political commentary. Organisers have also been directed to provide details of guests and ensure compliance with Supreme Court guidelines regarding public gatherings. The responsibility for maintaining peace has been placed on the organisers. The police action follows a memorandum submitted by local leaders of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), who urged officials not to grant permission for the event. Reacting to the notice, Sulibele described it as an attempt to curtail his freedom of expression. In a statement, he said, 'Is there a new law in Karnataka banning people from speaking about politics? By that logic, I cannot refer to Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi—or even Ghazni, Ghori and Aurangzeb.' He termed the development 'disturbing' and claimed it violated the constitutional right to free speech. Police have so far not indicated any formal restrictions on the event but reiterated that any deviation from approved topics or incitement to disharmony would invite legal action.
Economic Times
25 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Federal appeals court blocks Louisiana's controversial law regarding public schools which put Christianity at the forefront
AP A copy of the Ten Commandments (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) A federal appeals court has unanimously blocked Louisiana's controversial law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, marking a significant victory for civil liberties groups and families who argued the mandate violated the constitutional separation of church and three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a lower court's November 2024 decision that deemed the law 'facially unconstitutional' under the First Amendment. The law, enacted this year, required all public K-12 schools and state-funded colleges to prominently display a government-approved version of the Ten Commandments, regardless of classroom subject matter. State officials had provided guidelines for the posters, but implementation was suspended pending legal challenges.'Parents and students challenge a statute requiring public schools to permanently display the Ten Commandments in every classroom in Louisiana,' the court stated. 'The district court found the statute facially unconstitutional and preliminarily enjoined its enforcement. We affirm.' The ruling cited the precedent set by the 1980 Supreme Court case Stone v. Graham, which struck down a similar Kentucky law as unconstitutional. Civil liberties groups hailed the decision as a crucial safeguard for religious freedom and diversity. 'This is a resounding victory for the separation of church and state and public education,' said Heather L. Weaver, senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. 'Public schools are not Sunday schools, and they must welcome all students, regardless of faith.' Liz Hayes, spokesperson for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, added, 'All school districts in the state are bound to comply with the U.S. Constitution. Thus, all school districts must abide by this decision and should not post the Ten Commandments in their classrooms.' The law had been championed by Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, as part of a broader effort to introduce religious displays in public spaces. Supporters argued the Ten Commandments are foundational to U.S. law and history. However, opponents countered that the mandate would isolate non-Christian students and violate their rights. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill expressed strong disagreement with the ruling, stating her intent to appeal to the full Fifth Circuit and, if necessary, the U.S. Supreme Court. The case now moves closer to possible Supreme Court review, which could set a national precedent for similar laws in other states.
Hans India
35 minutes ago
- Hans India
Seminar in Madikeri revives Codava demand for geo-political autonomy
A renewed call for Codava autonomy and tribal recognition resonated from the hills of Kodagu as the Codava National Council (CNC) organised a high-profile seminar near Madikeri, marking 35 years of the organisation's apolitical movement seeking constitutional and cultural safeguards for the Codava people. Delivering the keynote lecture, Supreme Court advocate and constitutional law expert Vikram Hegde underscored the community's long-standing demands, including geo-political autonomy under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, Scheduled Tribe status, language inclusion in the Eighth Schedule, and protection of traditional land, cultural, and religious rights. Referring to the Codavas as an 'animistic, mono-ethnic group with deep-rooted ties to their ancestral lands,' Hegde noted that the community met several criteria under both domestic law and international conventions on indigenous peoples, particularly the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). He argued for a 'holistic and historically informed assessment' of the Codavas' demand for Scheduled Tribe classification. CNC President N.U. Nachappa Kodava, who presided over the seminar, reiterated the community's call for a Codava Autonomous Region (CAR) within the Indian Union—akin to the Gorkha Hill Council or the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils. 'Our aspiration is not secession but dignity—through federal accommodation of our unique identity,' Nachappa said. Citing the dilution of Codava presence in Parliament since the 1967 election of C.M. Poonacha, the seminar highlighted how Kodagu's merger with Karnataka in 1956 eroded the political representation of the community. Hegde called for serious consideration of Constitutional mechanisms such as inclusion under the Fifth or Sixth Schedule or a new provision like Article 371 tailored for Kodagu. 'Asymmetric federalism is not alien to India—it is the framework by which we have protected many identities. Codavas, with their contributions to national defence and administration, deserve similar recognition,' he said. The seminar also addressed growing concerns over the application of general laws—such as the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions Act and the SARFAESI Act—which threaten to undermine Codava religious freedom and land tenure. Senior Karnataka High Court advocate M.T. Nanaiah, supporting the CNC's legal initiatives, emphasised the community's peaceful advocacy over decades. 'Codavas have not resorted to agitation. They have used democratic and legal means. That alone deserves attention from the Centre,' he said.
