JUDGMENT :

ACHINTYA MALLA BUJOR BARUA, J.

1. Heard Mr. S.K. Das, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. R. Mazumdar, learned counsel for the respondents no. 1, 2 and 3 being the authorities under the Secondary Education Department, Government of Assam.

2. The petitioner who is also an In-Charge Principal of the Tinsukia Bengali Girls’ Higher Secondary School and also being a subject teacher of English had participated in a selection process for being appointed as a regular Principal of the school pursuant to the advertisement dated 21.06.2016 by the Member Secretary of the School Selection Committee.

3. From the perusal of the documents annexed to the writ petition and the other affidavits, it transpires that three candidates had offered their candidature in the selection process namely the petitioner Rashmi Dutta Roy (Dass), Minakshi Bhattacharjee (Sen) and Sobita Devi Borthakur. Admittedly, the procedure provided under Rule 13 of the Assam Secondary Education (Provincalised) Service Rules, 2003 (in short, the Rules of 2003) had been followed in the selection process.

4. As required under Rule 13(1) of the Rules of 2003 the School Selection Committee received applications a