Avadh Behari Rohatgi J.

( 1 ) THE question raised in this petition has never yet, we believe, been decided and as it is of considerable importance, and has been fully argued before us, we think we sought not to delay giving our decision.

( 2 ). The question is this. By Section 11 of the Delhi School Education Act, 1973 (Act No. 18 of 1973) the Administrator of the Union Territory of Delhi is impowered to constitute a School Tribunal to hear appeals. It is one man tribunal. Section 11, in so far as it is material, is in these terms. 11 (1) The Administrator shall, be notification, constitute a Tribunal, to be known as the "delhi School Tribunal" consisting of one person; Provided that no person shall be so appointed unless he has held office as a District Judge or any equivalent judicial office.

( 3 ) THE respondent, Mr. D. K. Dags, I. A. S. , has been appointed as "delhi School Tribunal" under section 11. The petitioner, Salwan Public School, challenges his appointment and says that an order be made 398 quashing his oppointment because he does not possess the legal qualifications for holding the office in question.

( 4 ) THE Director of Education, respondent No. 6, has made an affidavit giving the bio data of Mr. Dass. This bio data shows that Mr. Dass is an I. A. S. officer. He joined the service in 1957 and since then he has held various posts. He has been Deputy Commissioner of Kapurhala in Punjab. He has been Deputy Commissioner of Goa. At present he is holding the position of Financial Commissioner in addition to his being "delhi School Tribunal".

( 5 ) BY what authority Mr. Dass supports the claim to the office he holds. This is the real issue. The incumbent of the office has to have the legal qualifications prescribed by the Act.

( 6 ) ON behalf of the administration it was submitted that Mr. Dass has wide judicial experience and enjoys a status equivalent to that of a District Judge and with the approval of the Lt. Governor he was appointed as the "delhi School Tribunal".

( 7 ) THE short point for decision is whether Mr. Dass has ever held the office of "a District Judge or any equivalent judicial office". It is not contested that Mr. Dass has never held the office of a District Judge. Now the question is: Has he held any judicial office equivalent to that of a District Judge ?. It was said that in view of Mr. Dass s vast judicial experience he should be considered as having held a judicial office equivalent to that of a District Judge. We cannot accept this argument. The office of the Deputy Commissioner which Mr. Dass held in the past or that of the Financial Commissioner which he now holds are not judicial offices equivalent to the office of a District Judge. Those were administrative assignments. The key word in the proviso is "judicial". Judicial means pertaining to a judge or judges as distinguished from legislative and administrative offices. Mr. Dass has never been a judge. He is not, therefore, qualified to function as the Tribunal.

( 8 ) THE proviso is framed in negative and prohibitory terms. When statutory conditions are couched in negative terms they are almost invariably held to be mandatory. Negative words compel an imperative construction. The proviso is worded in strong language. The wording is too strong to justify our taking a milder view of the legal qualifications of the presiding of their of the Tribunal.

( 9 ) THE whole aim and object of the legislature would be plainly defeated if the command to do the thing in the particular manner is not obeyed. The neglect of the requirements of the proviso will invalidate the appointment.

( 10 ) THE legislative mandate is clear. The person to man the tribunal must have a judicial standing. He must be a district judge or some one equal to him in ability and experience. He must come from the judiciary to which we the judges have the honour to belong. This provision is a strik- ing illustration of what is called "judicialisation of tribunals". So the presidin

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