In an alleged move to prevent RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat from unfurling the national flag on the Republic Day at an unaided school in Palakkad, Kerala’s CPI(M)-led lDF Government has issued a circular stating that only heads of the institutions have the authority to hoist the Tricolour at schools and Government institutions.
Though many see the circular issued by the Government’s General Administration Department (GAD) as a routine thing, it has assumed significance in the context of the controversy that came up after the RSS chief unfurled the Tricolour at an aided school, Karnaki Amman Higher Secondary School at Vadakkumthala in Palakkad, on the last Independence Day.
Stating that only heads of institutions can hoist the national flag at Government offices and Government and aided schools, the circular issued on January 17 has laid down the guidelines to be followed for the ceremony. It says that flag-hoisting should be followed by singing of the National Anthem.
legal experts pointed out that the circular could be applicable only to Government-owned and aided schools and not to unaided, private schools and therefore it might not restrain the RSS chief from unfurling the Tricolour on the Republic Day at the Vyasa Vidya Peetham, an unaided school at Kallekkad in Palakkad district.
Bhagwat had unfurled the national flag on the Independence Day at Karnaki Amman School in the presence of its principal and representatives of its management despite an order of restraint issued by the Palakkad District Administration just hours before the ceremony saying that political leaders were not allowed to do this at schools.
Also, the national song was sung immediately after flag-hoisting instead of the National Anthem. The GAD had found that the Karnaki Amman School had violated the National Flag Code through this and Marxist Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had in November instructed the Education Department to take action against the aided school’s principal and manager.
Though Vyasa Vidya Peetham is one of the biggest schools in Kerala, it is not drawing any financial assistance from the State Government nor does it have State Government affiliation. “In that context, the State Government cannot interfere in its affairs except in cases of human rights violation and educational matters in general,” said an RSS leader.
“They could initiate action against the management and principal of the Karnaki Amman School because it is receiving Government grant. Here, the case is different,” he added. However, it was not immediately clear whether the circular was in any way relevant in the case of unaided schools functioning with the non-objections certificate issued by the State Government.
A source close to Vyasa Vidya Peetham said the school had not been receiving even copies of the orders and circulars being issued from time to time by the State Government or the Education Director. “It seems that this circular is aimed at satisfying certain leftist forces by creating an impression that the lDF Government is taking some action to resist the RSS,” he said.