HC orders DCE inquiry

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the Directorate of Collegiate Education to complete the inspection and inquiry, within 45 days, into the selection process for appointment of sweeper-cum-cleaners to the Cochin University of Science and Technology(CUSAT).Justice T R Ramachandran Nair passed the order  while considering a petition filed by a group of candidates to direct the university to continue with the interview of candidates in the scheduled time.The counsel for the petitioners submitted that the government had no authority to intervene in the matter, and issue a directive to stop the selection proceedings. They contended that as the selection committee was already seized of the allegations regarding leakage of question papers for the written test, the ordering of an inquiry and stoppage of further proceedings were an inroad into the powers of the selection committee.However, the state government opposed the plea for a directive to continue with the interview  and submitted that an inquiry officer had already been appointed. Besides, the university had already intimated the candidates about the postponement of the interview. “In the light of the urgency of the situation, it was only proper that the Director of Collegiate Education, the inquiry officer, should complete the inquiry within a time limit,” the court said.