The Cantonment police case covers eight identified protesters and approximately 50 others described as identifiable by sight. The first information report alleges that demonstrators raised slogans and caused inconvenience to members of the public near the Secretariat entrance.
The police action, disclosed on Saturday, October 31, follows an escalation of the campaign by candidates seeking appointments from the Kerala Public Service Commission’s lower primary school teacher rank list. The protesters dispute the allegation that their activities obstructed the public.
Valarmathi, secretary of the All Kerala LPST Rank Holders Association, rejected the accusation that demonstrators blocked the road. She questioned the inclusion of dozens of people in the complaint and alleged that police had obtained names on the pretext of security arrangements before recording them in the case.
She maintained that only around 30 to 35 people were present at the protest venue on Friday, challenging the police account of the number involved. The differing figures have become another point of contention between the organisers and the authorities.
The complaint concerns alleged obstruction during protests near the main entrance on Friday. Police allege that slogans and activity around the gate inconvenienced passers-by. The organisers maintain that their demonstration did not amount to a road blockade and have challenged the basis for criminal proceedings.
Valarmathi said the campaign would continue despite the case. The association has accused the government of failing to honour assurances made during discussions over appointments and staffing norms, and has criticised the decision to initiate police action against candidates seeking teaching jobs.
The case comes days after Valarmathi had her head tonsured at the protest site and began an indefinite hunger strike on Monday. The action was intended to draw attention to what the candidates describe as prolonged government inaction on their demands.
Her protest also followed remarks by the chief minister in the Legislative Assembly concerning the agitation and the political response to it. Valarmathi challenged the government’s position and asked it to identify the measures actually implemented to address the candidates’ grievances.
A central demand is to revise the pupil-teacher ratio in lower primary schools to one teacher for every 25 pupils. The association argues that the existing staffing arrangements restrict the creation of vacancies and leave candidates on the rank list with limited opportunities for appointment.
The candidates also want head teacher vacancies brought within the Public Service Commission recruitment process, an extension of the existing rank list’s validity and postponement of a fresh recruitment notification. They contend that issuing another notification before addressing the outstanding demands would further disadvantage those already selected for the list.
The association has additionally sought changes to recruitment in aided schools, including greater involvement by the commission, arguing that the existing arrangements need stronger safeguards against irregular appointments. These demands remain separate from the police allegations arising from the demonstration.
The protesters say officials had sought 45 days to examine their demands and that discussions with the education authorities did not produce a written commitment satisfactory to the association. Valarmathi has alleged that assurances made during talks were not translated into the orders sought by candidates.
The protest outside the Secretariat has continued for more than three months.
(The article ‘Police book LPST protesters’ appeared first on Free Press Journal.)
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