SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Sujata V. Manohar and D.P. Wadhwa, JJ.
Ram Kumari Cecil - Appellant
Versus
Managing Committee of Laxmi Narain Bhagwati Devi Vidya Mandir, Girls High School - Respondent
Civil Appeal Nos. 3155-56 of 1995
Decided On : 27.11.1997
Intermediate Education Act - Section 16 – Retired from service - Notice for termination - This led he appellant to file a civil suit in court of North claiming relief for declaration that she was a confirmed Headmistress in the school of the respondent and for mandatory injunction that respondent be ordered to confirm her on the post of Headmistress in the said school and she also prayed for decree of perpetual injunction for restraining respondent from removing her from the post of Headmistress as also from making new appointment and holding any selection - After the services of the appellant were terminated, the respondent also re-advertised for the post of Principal and appellant again applied for her appointment to that post in pursuance to the advertisement. The trial court granted the appellant decree of declaration as prayed but refused to grant the relief of injunction. The Managing Committee filed an appeal against the judgment and decree of the trial court - Appellate court upheld the judgment and decree of the trial court and dismissed the appeal. Against that the Managing Committee filed second appeal in High Court which, as noted above, was allowed and the suit filed by the appellant dismissed – Held, Considering the pleadings of the parties and the provisions of law set out above answer becomes quite obvious that the appellant had no case whether in the suit or in the writ petition. The appellant ceased to be Headmistress on up gradation of school of the respondent to the Higher Secondary School as the post was upgraded. She did not possess qualifications to be appointed as Principal of the Higher Secondary School. Her qualifications were not relaxed. The Competent Authority under the Intermediate Education Act did not grant approval for her appointment as a Principal which is a pre-condition under the law. Since the appointment itself was not approved it was not necessary for the Managing Committee of the school to get consent of the authority concerned for the termination of her services as a Principal. Her civil suit and the writ petition had no basis and were rightly dismissed by the High Court. However, our attention was drawn during the course of arguments towards the provisions of Regulation 16 of Chapter III of the Regulations under the Intermediate Education Act, which is as under - Vacancy of a head of an institution shall be filled by direct recruitment for which teachers serving in the institution may apply without upper age-limit, if any - Provided that when an institution is raised from a High School to an Intermediate College, the post of Principal shall be filled by the promotion of the Headmaster, if he is qualified, possesses a good record of service and is approved in the manner described in the Act. A Headmaster not approved shall be retained as an assistant teacher on the highest post for which he is qualified, provided that his pay shall not be reduced It was submitted that the appellant was a confirmed Headmistress of the school of the respondent and on upgradation of the school when she did not satisfy the qualifications of the Principal, she could not be thrown out and she continued as a Headmistress being confirmed employee of the respondent. Perhaps the indication was towards the proviso of the above regulation which says that in such circumstances Headmistress could have continued as an assistant teacher, if she satisfied other qualifications as laid down for a teacher for a Higher Secondary School. We are afraid no such plea was ever raised and record also does not show if at any time the appellant ever based her case on such a plea. We, therefore, find no merit in this appeal - Appeals dismissed
JUDGMENT :
D.P. Wadhwa, J.
1. The appellant who was working as Headmistress in the school of the respondent filed the present appeal against the judgment dated December 19, 1986 of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad (Lucknow Bench). The judgment of the High Court decides two matters: (1) second appeal filed by the respondent, the Managing Committee of the school arising out of a civil suit filed by the appellant, and (2) a writ petition also filed by the appellant in the High Court. While the appeal filed by the Managing Committee was allowed, the writ petition of the appellant was dismissed.
2. The appellant was working as Headmistress of the junior school of the respondent. The school was upgraded and recognised as Higher Secondary School. The Managing Committee published an advertisement inviting applications for the post of Principal. The appellant who was working at that time as Headmistress also applied for the post of Principal. She was called for interview and was selected by the Managing Committee. Her appointment was, however, subject to the approval under the provisions of the Intermediate Education Act, 1921. Appellant was placed on probation for one year from the date of joining of her duty. She joined her post on May 1, 1969. Instead, however, confirming the appellant to the post of Principal, the Managing Committee by letter dated May 1, 1970 terminated her services. This was on the ground that the competent authority under the Intermediate Education Act did not approve her appointment to the post of Principal inasmuch as the appellant did not possess the requisite qualifications as prescribed for the post of Principal in a higher secondary school. This led the appellant to file a civil suit in the court of Munsiff North, Lucknow claiming relief for declaration that she was a confirmed Headmistress in the school of the respondent and for mandatory injunction that respondent be ordered to confirm her on the post of Headmistress in the said school and she also prayed for decree of perpetual injunction for restraining the respondent from removing her from the post of Headmistress as also from making new appointment and holding any selection. After the services of the appellant were terminated, the respondent also re-advertised for the post of Principal and the appellant again applied for her appointment to that post in pursuance to the advertisement. The trial court granted the appellant decree of declaration as prayed but refused to grant the relief of injunction. The Managing Committee filed an appeal against the judgment and decree of the trial court. The appellate court upheld the judgment and decree of the trial court and dismissed the appeal. Against that the Managing Committee filed second appeal in the High Court which, as noted above, was allowed and the suit filed by the appellant dismissed.
3. The appellant also filed writ petition in the High Court praying for a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to implement the decision of the court in civil suit filed by her and for payment of arrears of salary and allowances to her. This writ petition was also dismissed. Aggrieved the appellant has filed this appeal.
4. There is no dispute that the appellant did not possess the qualifications for being appointed as a Principal of the Higher Secondary School. It is also not disputed that the appointment is subject to approval of the competent authority under the Intermediate Education Act. It is correct that the competent authority has power to relax the qualification but then again it is not disputed that the competent authority did not relax the qualification for the appointment of the appellant as Principal of the Higher Secondary School of the respondent. We may also note that when the respondent filed her civil suit in the court of Munsif and also writ petition in the High Court, she did not implead the competent authority under the Intermediate Education Act or the State of U.P. as party defendant or
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.