kochi the kerala cbse school management association has sent a letter airing their grievances against a controversial cbse circular which limits autonomy in appointing principals in unaided schools the circular issued on december 21 after a recent amendment in the affiliation bylaw informed unaided school managements that they will have to include a nominee from the cbse and nominees of the state government as per the state education act in their selection committee previously the selection committee consisted of the chairman of the managing committee president of the society an educationist nominated by the management community and a person having experience of administration of schools who was also nominated by the managing committeein our letter to the ministry of human resource development and to the cbse board we have cited four supreme court orders that protect the autonomy of unaided schools from the interference of the state government these orders are now in conflict with the new amendment said indira rajan general secretary cbse schools management association as per the circular recommendations by the selection committee will have to be concurrent with the decision of the nominees from cbse and the state government which means that management cannot appoint a principal without the approval from a cbse and state nomineethis will indirectly allow cbse and state government to dictate the management of the schools as well said t p m ibrahim khan president of kerala cbse school management association the amendment is inconsistent with the existing framework of operation and they must reconsider it because it jeopardizes the autonomy of unaided schools he said the cbse had earlier issued a circular in december about holding principal eligibility test pet for teachers who are aspiring to be principals this circular was quashed following outcries by school managements across india rajan said the interference by the state is not just a problem for schools in kerala but also for other states we have been in contact with other states and we are positive that cbse officials will consider our concerns she said