HC questions relevance of school panels

The Dharwad bench of the High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday observed that it was the right time to dissolve school development and management committees (SDMCs).

“The SDMCs, constituted with the objective of bettering the quality of education, have become a platform for settling political scores. Students and parents are falling victims to the petty politics indulged in by members of the committees. Under such circumstances, the court has no alternative except to question the relevance of SDMCs. Policymakers should seriously debate the need for these committees,” Justice Aravinda Kumar said.

The court directed the registry to send the copies of its order to the chief secretary to the government and principal secretary to the Education department.

Basavaraj Gadigola, the former chairperson of an SDMC, had approached the court, questioning the formation of a parents’ committee without consulting him.