PANJIM: Congress leader and Chairman of Mandre Vikas Parishad’s College of Commerce and Economics, Ramakant Khalap, on Tuesday said that the High Court interim relief is a slap on face of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who was ‘hell bent’ on closing down the college.
“The High Court relief is victory of the people of Mandrem. It is a slap on face of the Chief Minister, who was hell bent on closing down the college. He (CM) tried every means to shut the college,” Khalap told media persons soon after the court passed the order this morning.
“The chief minister has acted in a most disgusting manner. His action will not only affect him as local MLA but also the political prospects of his party in the constituency will be at stake,” he said.
Khalap said the parishad had challenged the Goa University Academic Council order cancelling affiliation to the college, until they seek a fresh NOC or approval from the government. “The move was entirely political and we were left with no option than to approach the Court,” he said. “Goa University is an autonomous body and the government cannot interfere in it. The University’s duty is to ascertain if the college has the infrastructure and enough number of students. Once permission has been given, the university cannot withdraw it (under government pressure),” Khalap said.
Following the court order, the college that was started in 2012, will admit 60 students in the first year commerce stream (BCom) from June onwards. The college achieved 100 percent results in 2014-15 and 90 percent in 2015-16.
The government, while withdrawing the administrative approval to the college in 2013, also refused to give grants in 2014.
