1. The rival claims of the petitioner and the 6th respondent for appointment to the post of HSA(Malayalam) in the 5th respondent's school against a short term vacancy from 5.6.2007 to 27.9.2007 and thereafter on regular basis from 20.6.2008 are to be resolved in this Writ Petition. The facts, in succinct, relevant for the purpose of deciding the aforesaid issue are as hereunder:-

The petitioner was appointed as HSA(Malayalam) under the 5th respondent's school for the period from 27.10.1993 to 14.1.1994 as per Ext.P1. Later, she was appointed as such in a short term vacancy from 1.1.1998 to 30.3.1998 as per Ext.P2 and then, as per Ext.P3, from 2.6.1998 to 29.8.1998. Again she had rendered service as HSA (Malayalam) against short term leave vacancies in different spells, such as, from 15.9.1998 to 30.11.1998, 10.1.2000 to 10.3.2000, 12.9.2001 to 24.1.2002 and from 6.10.2003 to 5.12.2003. Admittedly, all these appointments were approved by the first respondent. The 6th respondent was appointed as a UPSA in the 5th respondent's school on 6.6.1994. Even at the time of initial appointment as HSA (Malayalam), the petitioner was having all the prescribed qualifications for such app