Focus on school education, Lok Satta urges Govt. (Telugu)

Focus on school education, Lok Satta urges Govt.

Even as it welcomed the Government providing opportunities for higher education to larger and larger numbers of students belonging to weaker sections, the Lok Satta Party today said the Government had failed to give equal importance to primary and high school education.

Talking to the media, party spokespersons Mr. Katari Srinivasa Rao, Mrs. K. Geetha Murthy referred to the Chief Minister’s claim that Andhra Pradesh topped all other States in its budget for higher education and said the Government was building an edifice without a strong foundation.

The Lok Satta leaders quoted the Annual Status of Education Report to point out that a large percentage of students up to Class VIII could not read a couple of sentences in their mother tongue or undertake simple division and subtraction of numbers. A survey conducted by the Lok Satta revealed that most of the schools do not have pucca buildings and in most schools classes are conducted in one or two rooms. Most teachers happen to be volunteers and most of the schools do not have drinking water or toilet facilities.

Primary schools witnessed a dropout rate of about 50 percent and the Tenth Class, about 38 percent.

The Lok Satta would like the Government to pay greater attention to primary and higher education through allocation of funds, construction of school buildings, provision of amenities and appointment of teachers.

The leaders pointed out that school students as also hostel inmates went without nutritious food because of the spiraling costs of essential commodities. They wanted the Government to enhance allocation of funds for schemes that enabled poor students to pursue their education.

Let’s us consult Advocate General on Amending Societies Act: Dr. JP (Telugu)

Let’s us consult Advocate General on Amending Societies Act: Dr. JP

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today suggested that the Advocate General’s expertise be tapped when the Legislative Assembly takes up the Bill to amend The Andhra Pradesh Societies Registration Act, 2001for consideration.

In separate letters to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Advocate General, Dr. JP pointed out that Article 177 of the Constitution provided for the participation of the Advocate General in the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly.

He recalled that the Government had introduced the Bill despite the Opposition contention that the House has no legislative competence to enact such a law abridging the Fundamental Rights enunciated in 19 (1) C of the Constitution. “This is not a matter of policy, but a matter of Constitutional law. Therefore, the House needs to be guided by an appropriate authority while dealing with the Bill.”

In his letter to the Advocate General, Dr. JP said that the Bill provides for the supersession of the managing committee of any society ‘which is not functioning properly, or willfully disobeys or fails to comply with any lawful order or direction issued by the Registrar and appointment of a special officer or committee to manage the affairs of the society up to three years.’

Dr. JP said that societies or unions can be regulated by a law imposing reasonable restrictions only in the interests of sovereignty and integrity of India, public order or morality. “But the restrictions sought to be imposed do not pertain to these subjects.”

Dr. JP said, “When there is a vital Constitutional question of this magnitude relating to the Fundamental Rights and Legislative competence, we need the guidance of a Constitutional expert. According to Article 177 of the Constitution, ‘The Advocate General for a State shall have the right to speak in, and otherwise take part in the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of the State… This is a case in which your guidance and Constitutional expertise will be of great value to the House while it considers the important legislation.”

Dr. JP has shared the communication with the all floor leaders, concerned Ministers and the media.

Dr.JP's Letter to Advocate General of AP

29th August 2009

Sri Seetarama Murthy
Advocate-General of AP
Hyderabad

Dear Sri Seetarama Murthy garu,

Kindly find enclosed my letter to the Speaker requesting him to invite you under Article 177 of the Constitution to guide the AP Legislative Assembly whenever the Bill to amend the Andhra Pradesh Societies Registration Act 2001, is taken up for consideration by the House. I am also enclosing the Bill for your information. The Bill provides for supersession of the (managing) committee of any society which is “not functioning properly or willfully disobeys or fails to comply with any lawful order or direction issued by the Registrar”, and appointment of a special officer or a committee to manage the affairs of the society up to three years,

I have formally objected to introduction of the Bill under Rule 96 (2) of the Assembly Rules, on the ground that such a law violates Article 19(1)(C) read with Articles 19(4) and 13(2). Under Article 19(4), the societies or unions can be regulated by a law imposing reasonable restrictions only in the interests of sovereignty and integrity of India, public order or morality. I have objected the introduction of the Bill as the restrictions sought to be imposed do not pertain to sovereignty and integrity of India, or public order or morality. The Minister concerned countered my objection on the ground that Article 19(5) provides for restrictions ‘in the interests of the general public’. I pointed out that Article 19(5) applies only to the rights conferred under Article 19(1)(d) and (e), and not to Article 19(1)(c). However, the Bill was introduced in the AP Legislative Assembly on 28th August 2009.

When there is a vital Constitutional question of this magnitude relating to the Fundamental Rights and the legislative competence of the House, we need the guidance of a Constitutional expert. Article 177 of the Constitution addresses such a situation. According to Article 177, “The Advocate-General for a State shall have the right to speak in, and otherwise take part in the proceedings of, the Legislative Assembly of the State,. … but shall not be entitled to vote”. This is a case in which your guidance and Constitutional expertise will be of great value to the House while considering this important legislation.

I have written to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to invite you to the House whenever the Bill comes up for consideration, so that the House can benefit from your expertise (Letter enclosed). As per the Article 177, the Advocate-General has the right to participate in the House proceedings at any time. I, therefore, request you to kindly make it convenient to participate in the proceedings of the Assembly when the Bill comes up for consideration.

In view of the importance of this issue, I am sharing this communication with the Speaker, all Floor Leaders, concerned Ministers, and the general public.

With warm personal regards,



Jayaprakash Narayan