JUDGMENT :

The Principal of the 'Sankara Menon Memorial Higher Secondary School', Palakkad, has filed this Writ Petition challenging Ext.P18 order of the Manager, suspending her from service with effect from 23.09.2020; as also Ext.P20 order of the Regional Deputy Director of Higher Secondary Education, Malappuram, (hereinafter referred to as the ‘RDD’ for brevity), granting concurrence to the said suspension beyond 15 days, as per the provisions of the proviso to Rule 67(7) of Chapter XIVA of the Kerala Education Rules (KER for short).

2. The plethora of documents and pleadings available on record reveals that the singular allegation of the petitioner against Ext.P18 order of suspension is that it has not been signed or issued by the Manager, but by another person, since he was abroad at the time when it was issued. As regards Ext.P20, the petitioner asserts that it is non-est and null because the RDD is not statutorily competent to grant concurrence to orders of suspension of Principals of Higher Secondary Schools.

3. I have heard Sri.Benoy Thomas – learned counsel for the petitioner; Sri.Kodoth Sreedharan, learned counsel appearing for respondents 4 and 5 -Manager and Headmaster of