Principal issue figures in Assembly again

The alleged vindictive action against Principal of a government school here for criticising the Education Minister for coming late for a campus function figured in the state assembly for the second day today with CPI-M-led LDF Opposition staging a walkout.
Both Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb maintained that she was transfered on the basis of an inquiry report which actually recommended her suspension.
Chandy said the Principal of the Government Cotton Hill School K K Urmila Devi could file an appeal against the decision in the concerned form and government would definitely consider it.

Opposition leader and CPI-M veteran V S Achuthanandan brought the issue as a point of order and said government action was denial of natural justice.He wanted to know from the Speaker whether it was proper for the Minister to attend a function when the House was in session in violation of a ruling by the Speaker in this regard.
Speaker G Karthikeyan said ministers should participate in functions during sessions only if it was unavoidable.
In bid to attack the government on the issue, Achuthanandan said government had sought an explanation within 15 days from the Principal, but order transferring her was issued within three days of giving the notice.

Achuthanandan said Urmila Devi, belonging to a scheduled caste community, also suffers from some serious illness.Chandy accused the Opposition of trying to communalise the issue.

LDF members trooped out of the House protesting the government attitude towards the Principal.
LDF had disrupted proceedings yesterday forcing the House to be adjourned ahead of the day's schedule.
Meanwhile, Urmila Devi approached the State Administrative Tribunal challenging the government order.
The incident that provoked action against the Principal happened on June 16 when a function was arranged in the school campus in which the Minister was to present awards to the Schools English Club.The Minister was slated to be at the school at 11 AM and students were seated in time.

The Minister, however, had arrived for the function about 90 minutes late and the Principal allegedly made some critical remarks about it in her speech.