1977 Supreme(Ker) 133
Judges : V.P.GOPALAN NAMBIYAR,K.K.NARENDRAN
AVVU - Appellant
Versus
BAPPUTTY - Respondent
Case No : A. S. A. No. 6 of 1976
Decided On : 06/28/1977
Advocates Appeared :
T.R. Govinda Warrier; K. Ramkumar; For Appellant K. P. Madhava Menon; For Respondent
The central legal point established in the judgment is that a suit to remove a duly approved Manager of an aided school cannot lie without due cancellation or vacation of the approval, and seeking injunction against such a Manager is not justified.
Headnote:
Kerala Education Act - Manager Approval - Suit for Removal and Injunction
Fact of the Case:
The case involved a suit to remove the 1st defendant from the management of an aided school, seek injunction against him from receiving maintenance grant, and for a rendition of accounts. The trial court and lower appellate court granted the reliefs, which were sustained by the learned judge. The 1st defendant appealed against this decision.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the statutory provisions of the Kerala Education Act and the Rules framed thereunder, particularly S.7 and S.9(3), provided for the approval and duties of the Manager of an aided school. It concluded that a suit to remove a person duly approved by the educational authorities cannot lie without due cancellation or vacation of the approval. The court also noted that the relief of injunction against a duly approved Manager was not justified.
Issues: The issues involved the interpretation of statutory provisions governing the approval and duties of the Manager of an aided school, and the appropriateness of seeking removal and injunction against a duly approved Manager.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the statutory provisions of the Kerala Education Act, which provided for the approval and duties of the Manager of an aided school. It held that a suit to remove a duly approved Manager cannot lie without due cancellation or vacation of the approval, and that seeking injunction against such a Manager was not justified.
Final Decision: The court allowed the appeal, set aside the judgment and decree of the learned judge, and directed that the plaintiffs' suit stand dismissed. There was no order as to costs.
1. We are unable to share the view of the learned judge on the basis of which the learned judge sustained the decree for injunction and for accounting granted by the trial court and by the lower appellate court and modified the decree for removal of the 1st defendant granted by the appellate court, in effect, to a declaration directing that he is liable to be removed and pointing put the modus operandi for such removal. The aggrieved 1st defendant in the suit has appealed to us against the decision of the learned Judge.
2. The matter arises out of a suit claiming three reliefs viz. (1) to remove the 1st defendant from management of an aided Mopla Lower Primary School; (2) for an injunction against him from receiving the maintenance grant from the educational authorities; and thirdly for a rendition of accounts in respect of amount of grant so far received, The building which housed the elementary school belonged to one Avaru who assigned it under Ext. Al dated 28-5-1959 to ten persons who are parties to the suit either as plaintiffs or as defendants. One Mariakutty Umma was appointed the Manager of the School. By Ext. B5 dated 30-5-1959 the District Educational Officer recognised the Ist defendant as the Manager. On the same date as Ext. A 1 by Ex A 2 Mariakutty purported to transfer the right of management to the ten persons in whose favour Ext. A 1 document was executed. It was on these facts and circumstances that the suit was filed for the reliefs noticed. We have already referred in brief to the reliefs granted.
3. Counsel for the appellant invited our attention to the statutory provisions of the Kerala Education Act and the Rules framed thereunder, viz. S.7, S.9(3) and Chapter XXVIII (dealing with maintenance grant) and Chapter III (dealing with approval of management). S.7(1) provides that any educational agency may appoint any person to be the manager of an aided school under this Act, subject to the approval of such officer as may be authorised by the Government. The explanation to sub-clause (1) of S 7 enacts that all the existing managers of aided schools shall be deemed to have been appointed under the Act Sub-clauses (2) to (9) provide the various duties, responsibilities and privileges of the Manager. The properties of the school are to be in his possession and control and it shall be his duty to maintain the records and accounts in such manner as may be prescribed; he shall be bound to afford all assistance and facilities for inspection of the school and its records and so on Under S.9(3) the Government may pay to the Manager a maintenance grant at such rates as may be prescribed Chapter XXVIII deals with the disbursement of maintenance grant, and Chapter III deals with the management of private schools. It is unnecessary to notice in detail the provisions of these 'Chapters: We have referred to the statutory provisions only to point out that when the legal title of management is provided for by the statutory provisions as based upon approval by the educational authorities, it appears difficult to envisage how a suit to remove a person duly approved by the educational authorities can lie without due cancellation or vacation of the approval. Nor are we able to understand how against such a duly approved Manager, the relief of injunction can lie. On these grounds it appears to us that the decree for removal of the 1st defendant and for injunction against him must be vacated.
4. The learned judge has of course not granted a decree for removal of the 1st defendant; but she has granted, in effect, a decree for declaration by directing as follows:
7. The trial court did not direct removal of the appellant because such removal without appointing a substitute will affect the running of the school. It is open to the committee in whom the ownership of the school vests to frame & constitution with rules regarding the manner of appointment of Managers, get the rules approved by the Education Department, remove the a