Abdul Gafoor, J.

The appellant/petitioner was an aspirant to the post of Higher Secondary School Teacher (Political Science) (HSST) towards the quota set apart for teachers in the High Schools or Primary Schools in the General Education Department. The qualifications for the post are prescribed as per the Special Rules relating to the Kerala Higher Secondary Education State Service. The said Rules prescribe the qualifications for the post of HSST in political science as Master Degree in the subject with not less than 50% marks from any of the universities in Kerala or a qualification recognised as equivalent thereto in that subject by a university in Kerala, with B.Ed degree in the concerned subject acquired from any of the universities in Kerala or a qualification recognised as equivalent thereto by a University in Kerala. In the absence of candidates with B. Ed in the concerned subjects persons with B.Ed degree “in the concerned Faculty as specified in the Acts and Statutes of the Universities in Kerala” can be considered. In the absence of candidates with B.Ed degree in the concerned subject or in the concerned faculty alone, those with B.Ed degree in any other subjec