Karnataka High Court on Tuesday upheld the validity of Karnataka Educational Institutions (Grant in Aid for Primary & Secondary Schools and PU Educational Institutions) Amendment Rules, 2001 that had discontinued Maintenance Grants to educational institutions.

A 2003 writ petition by Dakshina Kannada Aided Schools Administrators Association and six other educational institutions of Mangalore had challenged the Constitutional validity of section 2A in the 2001 Amendment Rules.
The State government had brought the rules into effect by a notification on August 20, 2001. The provision had stipulated discontinuation of maintenance grants to primary and secondary schools, and pre-univeristy  colleges while also denying the payment of the arrears not claimed by the institutions prior to the coming into effect of impugned Rules.

Justice B S Patil dismissed the petition on Tuesday, while observing that it was the discretion of the Government to continue or discontinue grants, and that petitioners could not claim grants as a matter of right.

PILs hearing
 The Public Interest Litigations concerning Sakrama scheme are posted for hearing before the High Court, on Wednesday.

Seven petitions filed by different residents’ organisations have impugned the Sakrama scheme on different grounds.  Among the petitioners, the Citizens’ Forum for Mangalore Development, Mangalore and city-based Abhyudaya have challenged the very amendment that proposed regularisation of unauthorised constructions and the subsequent Sakrama Rules.

HC to PhD students
The  Court on Tuesday told the students pursuing Ph. D to draw the attention of the Chancellor about alleged non-compliance of University guidelines in awarding doctorate degrees in Bangalore University.

The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice B S Patil told so while dismissing a writ petition by Panchagavya Trust and Akaanksha Trust filed on behalf of Bangalore University  Ph.D. students.