IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI
Ajit Singh, Manojit Bhuyan, JJ.
Babita Kalita - Appellant
Versus
The State of Assam & Ors. - Respondents
W.A. No. 172 of 2016
Decided On : 25-05-2017
Director of Secondary Education – District Level Selection Board – Learned Standing Counsel Secondary Education Department appearing for respondents Selection Board, Kamrup had selected appellant for post of Assistant Teacher and following said selection she was appointed as an Assistant Teacher in Kachari Mahal High School Madhukuchi in district of Kamru appointment was made by Inspector of Schools, Kamrup by his order time of making application appellant admittedly did not have requisite qualification for appointment as Assistant Teacher (Graduate Teacher) but having regard to the selection taking place after about four years she had obtained requisite qualification in meantime – Held, Appellant obtained the requisite qualification. It is not brought on record by respondent State as to when selection by the District Level Selection Committee had commenced, save and except that the selection was completed – Perhaps appellant obtained requisite qualification before commencement of the selection process – Above all appellant have virtually continued to serve as an Assistant Teacher from which is her date of joining as an Assistant Teacher pursuant to order of appointment substantial number of years have elapsed and would not be in fitness of things to uphold the order of termination and to deprive appellant of her vested right – As alluded to above, her appointment as an Assistant Teacher was not a making of her own choice but a conscious decision taken by State respondents – Writ appeal stands allowed.
Manojit Bhuyan, J.
Heard Mr. M. Dutta, learned counsel representing-appellant as well as Mr. K.P. Pathak learned Standing Counsel, Secondary Education Department, appearing for the respondents.
2. This intra-Court appeal is presented against the order dated 05.04.2016 passed in WP(C) 4195/2013.
3. The appellant/writ petitioner had responded to the Advertisement in the year 1996 for recruitment to the post of teachers including the posts of Assistant Teachers (Graduate Teachers), Classical Teachers, Hindi Teachers etc. in various provincialised High/Higher Secondary Schools and High Madrassas in the State. At that point of time she had passed Higher Secondary and had qualification as Probin in Hindi and therefore applied a post of Hindi Teacher. The District Level Selection Board, Kamrup had selected the appellant for the post of Assistant Teacher and following the said selection she was appointed as an Assistant Teacher in Kachari Mahal High School, Madhukuchi in the district of Kamrup. The appointment was made by the Inspector of Schools, Kamrup by his order dated 31.03.2001. At the time of making application, the appellant admittedly did not have the requisite qualification for appointment as Assistant Teacher (Graduate Teacher) but having regard to the selection taking place after about four years, she had obtained the requisite qualification in the meantime. It was on this count that she came to be selected by the District Level Selection Board, Kamrup for the post of Assistant Teacher and not as a Hindi Teacher. Consequent upon her joining on 02.04.2001, a verification exercise was initiated by the Inspector of Schools, Kamrup and on 10.08.2001, the appointment order of the appellant was withdrawn. The appellant filed WP(C) 6842/2001 and this Court while admitting the same had stayed the operation of the order dated 10.08.2001. The appellant had the occasion to file a contempt application and during that time she was accommodated as an Assistant Teacher in Modartala Bidyapeeth High School on 28.06.2004. The writ petition i.e. WP (C) 6842/2001 was eventually allowed by order dated 08.02.2007 on ground that the withdrawal of the service of the appellant was in violation of the principles of natural justice. In the year 2004 itself, another writ petition i.e. WP(C) 9199/2004 was filed by a set of persons challenging the appointment of the appellant as Assistant Teacher and also seeking appointments in their favour. The said writ petition was disposed of by order dated 15.03.2011 holding that no direction can be made for appointment of the petitioners therein. However, in so far as the appellant is concerned (who was arrayed as respondent no. 4), a direction was made to the Director of Secondary Education, Assam to cause an enquiry on the legality of her appointment as a teacher in Modartala Bidyapeeth High School with further direction that if upon such enquiry it is found that she was undeservedly appointed, necessary steps would be taken to correct the illegality. It was also made clear that no adverse order be passed without affording opportunity of hearing to her.
4. For the purpose of making an enquiry, a Show Cause Notice was issued to the appellant to make explanation as to why her service should not be terminated on ground that she did not possess the requisite qualification at the time of her appointment as an Assistant Teacher. The said Show Cause Notice was put to test in WP(C) 6021/2012. While issuing notice on 13.12.2012, an observation was made by the Court that the pendency of the case will not operate as a bar for the Director of Secondary Education, Assam to issue a supplementary Show Cause Notice and to decide on the alleged disqualification of the appellant. It was also observed that she must be given all opportunity to make representation in support of her contention. A caveat was also expressed that if an adverse conclusion is reached after due process, the same shall not be implemented w
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