Minorities’ commission to take action on ’raiders’ of Bondantila school

Mangalore Today News Network

Aug 18, 2016: The Karnataka State Minorities’ Commission, which now has been given judicial powers, said on Aug 17, Wednesday that it would take “suitable action” with regard to the recent “raid” on a school in Bondantila, allegedly for teaching Arabic.

Speaking to media, the commission’s chairperson, Belkis Banu, said action would be taken after receiving reports from the DK DC and the City Police Commissioner. Chairperson Banu said she visited the school on  Aug 17, Wednesday gathered details from the management, teachers and parents.

The students were being taught Arabic, German and other foreign languages to equip them with a variety of skills. The school management was teaching the language to help students who could possibly go to the Gulf in search of jobs, she said.   Chairperson Banu said the State government had conferred judicial powers on the commission recently. While other commissions set up by the government already had such powers, the Minorities Commission did not.  But now, it has the powers of a civil court and can summon people to appear before it.

She said the commission was aware of the issues faced by schools run by minorities in obtaining recognition certificate. If 25 per cent of the students in such institutions are from minority communities, such schools should get minority status, she mentioned.