A public education sector mafia prospered from the dishonest conduct of arts festivals in the State, the Kerala Lok Ayukta heard on Wednesday.
Additional Director General of Police B. Sandhya, who headed a police inquiry into allegations of nepotism and corruption in the conduct of such festivals, also known as Kalotsavams, told the court that the mafia included competition judges, teachers’ union leaders sitting on organising committees, parents fixated on ensuring their children win the contests at any cost, and faceless middlemen.
The mafia worked “behind curtains” to fix prizes for a price. They fudged account books to conceal financial irregularities.
The practice of according extra marks (30) to arts festival participants should be stopped. The custom had spawned unhealthy competition and caused the fetes to be progressively criminalised.
The court heard that parents used “any illegitimate means” to ensure their children topped the competitions, for such successes routinely opened the door for the winners to enter the cinema and television serial industry.
Impersonation and age manipulation were rampant at the festivals.
The practice of collecting money from students violated their right to free education. At least 36 teachers’ organisations competed with each other to organise the festival. The organisers spent the money levied from students without any financial discipline or audit.
The organisers chose judges on the basis of patronage. The festivals seemed to benefit only leaders of teachers’ organisations.
“Practically, it becomes a festival of teachers’ organisations and the parents of a few wealthy students and the mafia of judges,” the court heard.
Arts festivals should be organised thriftily. Only government funds should be utilised. The role of teachers’ organisations in the conduct of the festivals should be curbed. The government should frame rules for the transparent conduct of the festivals, including the selection of judges.
Judges Pius. C. Kuriakose and K.K. Dinesan presided. They will hear the case again on May 19.
Mafia included competition judges, says ADGP
‘They worked to fix prizes for a price’
