School Arts Festival: Judges to Be Under Vigilance Watch, Says Minister V Sivankutty

Thrissur: Kerala Minister for General Education V Sivankutty on Saturday said the State School Arts Festival being held in Thrissur would be conducted as a completely complaint-free event, with strict measures in place to ensure transparency and fairness in every aspect of its conduct. He was speaking at a public meeting held after inaugurating the construction of the festival’s main pavilion.

The minister said the judging process would be placed under continuous monitoring by the State Police and the Vigilance department to prevent any irregularities. All judges, he said, would be required to submit written declarations under oath affirming impartiality, and any deviation from fair and transparent evaluation would invite legal action. Emphasising that there would be no compromise on integrity, Sivankutty said the government was determined to ensure that the festival upholds its long-standing credibility and reputation. He also noted that the people of Thrissur had embraced the event wholeheartedly, extending full cooperation to the organisers.

The State School Arts Festival, one of the largest cultural events for students in the state, will be held from January 14 to 18. A total of 249 competition events are scheduled across 25 venues, showcasing a wide range of art forms. Around 14,000 students from across Kerala are expected to participate, while nearly 400 judges will be involved in the evaluation process.

The minister said detailed preparations were underway to ensure smooth conduct of the festival, including arrangements related to venues, security, accommodation and transportation. Coordination meetings involving various departments have already been held to address logistical requirements and crowd management.

The festival will formally begin at 10 am on January 14 at the main venue, Thekkinkadu Maidan. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the event. The concluding ceremony will be held on January 18, with actor Mohanlal attending as the chief guest.