Ministers Roji M John and K Muraleedharan Clash Publicly Over Appointment of Professional Oversight Committee

Thiruvananthapuram: Ministers Roji M John and K Muraleedharan have publicly clashed over the appointment of the Professional Oversight Committee. The committee, which oversees admissions to professional courses and fee determination, was appointed on the recommendation of the Higher Education Minister.

However, Health Minister K Muraleedharan has come out against the appointment, alleging that the committee was constituted without consulting the Health Department. Muraleedharan has openly demanded that the existing committee be cancelled, warning that otherwise a separate committee would be appointed.

Former Deputy Lokayukta Justice KP Balachandran was appointed chairman of the committee. Muraleedharan is also deeply dissatisfied that the decision was taken without seeking the Health Minister's opinion, despite the health sector having a greater role in the self-financing education sector.

The delay in appointing the committee's chairman had seriously affected admissions to self-financing medical colleges. Amid complaints over the delay, the committee was selected urgently under the leadership of the Higher Education Minister.

However, the Health Minister is taking the position that his demand should be fulfilled even if it causes problems with the admission process. At the same time, the appointment has raised questions as rules stipulate that those who have held the positions of Lokayukta or Deputy Lokayukta should not subsequently be appointed to posts under the government.

The public spat between the ministers comes amid protests over both the delay in making the appointment and allegations that the appointment itself violated existing rules.