CPI(M) accuses UDF of making higher education the sole privilege of students from eligible families and undermining reservation criteria

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday accused Higher Education Minister Roji M. John of trying to undermine the government and aid higher education institutions that offer affordable tutoring to students from marginalized and economically disadvantaged sections of society.

CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan told a press conference that Mr John was trying to make higher education unaffordable for students from working-class families by allowing autonomous and private self-financing schools to start new courses, recruit teachers and charge exorbitant fees at will.

“Mr. John suddenly removed government and university oversight of private sector higher education institutions. He undermined constitutionally guaranteed reservation criteria (affirmative action) for students from historically backward sections of society, including backward classes and Dalits, by allowing private colleges to start new courses, charge capitation fees and appoint PSC faculty.”

Mr Govindan said Mr John had taken a page from the Sangh Parivar’s playbook by making higher education available only to the children of the entitled and privileged elite, allowing private colleges to start new courses and charge exorbitant fees without supervision.

Mr. Govindan said that Mr. John demanded an apology from the students suspended from Kalady Sanskrit University on false allegations as a pre-requisite for appearing in their semester examination. Mr. John echoed the political approach of the university vice-chancellor, a fellow Sangh Parivar, who was nominated for the post by the former governor of Kerala, who is also the chancellor of the universities. Mr. John asked the students to “emulate the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders who apologized to the colonial regime to avoid imprisonment during the independence struggle,” Mr. Govindan said.

Mr. Govindan also accused the government of trying to tarnish the PSC’s credibility by repeating conspiracy theories broadcast by the right-wing media. “The PSC is a constitutional body. Only the Supreme Court has oversight powers over the PSC. The criminal police investigation against the body is unconstitutional. Moreover, by pulling the rug from under the feet of the PSC, the UDF is laying the foundation for unchecked and non-transparent backdoor appointments,” Mr. Govindan said.

The CPI(M) pointed out that the Keralam PSC recruited the largest number of educated youth for government posts through a transparent and fair process of screening and interviews. “Thirty thousand youths who are now serving at various levels in government and educational institutions with and without assistance have not complained of any fraud. By ordering a crime branch probe based on lies propagated by the pro-BJP corporate media, the UDF government is questioning the credibility of thousands of youths who got jobs through the PSC process,” he said.

Published – 10 Nov 2026 20:18 IST