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2003 Supreme(Bom) 154

IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
Thakker C.K., C.J. Dr. Chandrachud D.Y., J.
Neeraja Rajendranath Mishra .... Petitioner.
Versus
Kalyan Dombivali Municipal
Corporation School Board others.... Respondents.
Writ Petition No. 447 of 2003, decided on 6-2-2003.
Advocates appeared :
Abhay Oak with Ms. Gauri Godse, for petitioner.
A.S. Rao, for respondents 1 to 3.
R.D. Rane, A.G.P., for respondent No. 4.
S.A. Ahmed i/b. Thakker, Bali, for respondents 5 to 13.

Headnote:Bombay Pre-primary and Primary Education Act, 1947 - Section 10(2) - Removal of Chairman - Notice for sent on 20.12.2002 - Resolution passed on 30.12.2002 - Action taken on 4.1.2003 - Both days excluded when limitation was calculated - Proper compliance of Section 10(2) - of the Act. - Referring to Maxwell of Interpretation of Statutes, the Division Bench observed that when the rules require that particular clear days notice should be given for no confidence motion, excluding both terminal days, the days are to be calculated and if it is not the period prescribed by the section or rule, then the action cannot be said to be legal, valid or in accordance with law.

       In the instant case, the statute requires at least two weeks notice. Hence, the date on which the notice was given, i.e., served upon the petitioner, i.e., December 21, 2003, must be excluded. Similarly, the date on which the action was taken, i.e., January 4, 2003, also requires to be excluded. There is no distinction between "at least" and "clear" days, as contended by the Counsel for respondent Nos. 1 to 3. If both the days are excluded, the period would be less than two weeks.

       Words and Phrases - Clear days - See Bombay Pre-primary and Primary Education Act, 1947, Section 10(2).

JUDGMENT - THAKKER C.K., C.J.:---Rule. Mr. A.S. Rao, learned Counsel, appears and waives service of rule on behalf of respondent Nos. 1 to 3. Mr. R.D. Rane, learned Additional Government Pleader, appears and waives service of rule on behalf of respondent No. 4. Mr. S.A. Ahmed, learned Counsel, appears and waives service of rule on behalf of respondents 5 to 13.

2. In the facts and circumstances, the matter is taken up for final hearing today.

3. This petition is filed by the petitioner for an appropriate writ, direction or order quashing and setting aside the resolution dated January 4, 2003 (Exhibit D) purportedly passed by the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation School Board, respondent No. 1 herein.

4. The petitioner was holding the post of Vice-Chairman of the first respondent-school board. It is the case of the petitioner that on December 20, 2002, no confidence motion was sought to be moved against her, and notice to that effect was issued, which was received by the petitioner on the next day, i.e., on December 21, 2002. No confidence motion was actually carried out on January 4, 2003, which is challenged in the present petition.

5. Two contentions have been raised by the learned Counsel for the petitioner. Firstly, though the provision of sub-section (2) of section 10 of the Bombay Pre-Primary and Primary Education Act, 1947 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") requires a notice of at least two weeks, no such notice as contemplated by sub-section (2) of section 10 was given, and hence, the action was illegal. Secondly, such a notice must be given along with a resolution passed, and a copy of such resolution must also be supplied to the person concerned so as to afford reasonable opportunity of showing cause as to why the said resolution should not be passed. Since the resolution was passed on December 30, 2002, and the notice was issued on December 20, 2002 before passing of such resolution, the action was illegal.

6. So far as the second contention is concerned, we express no opinion in view of the fact that the first ground raised is well-founded, and must be upheld. Section 10 of the Act provides for no confidence motion. Sub-section (2), which is relevant, reads as under:---

"10(1) .. .. ..

(2) A Chairman or a Vice-Chairman shall be removable from office by a resolution passed to that effect, provided that at least two-thirds of the total number of members of the school board vote in favour of such resolution or where the number of such members voting in favour of such resolution is less than two-thirds but more than on-half of the total number of members of the school board, sanction is accorded by the State government for such removal and provided further that before such resolution is passed, the Chairman or Vice-Chairman is given at least two weeks notice of such resolution and a reasonable opportunity of showing cause why such resolution should not be passed."

7. It is an undisputed fact that the notice was issued on December 20, 2002. According to respondent Nos. 1 to 3, the petitioner received the said notice on the next date, i.e., December 21, 2002, though, according to the petitioner, she received the said notice along with the resolution on December 30, 2002. But even if it is assumed, for the sake of argument, that the petitioner received the notice dated December 20, 2002 on the next date, i.e., December 21, 2002, and that a copy of the resolution need not be served along with the notice, then also, in our opinion, it cannot be said that the resolution passed against the petitioner was in consonance with the provision of sub-section (2) of section 10 of the Act.

8. It is contended on behalf of respondent Nos. 7 to 13 that notice was served at the office of the school board on December 20, 2002, and hence, it must be presumed that the petitioner was aware of such notice and the action sought to be taken against her. In our view, however, when the Administrative Officer has stated that the notice was served









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