Srinivasan.J.

The appellant was appointed as Headmaster of Selva Damodharan High School, Palakkarai, Trichy in 1968. The school was upgraded into Higher Secondary School by Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.987, dated 7.6.1988. According to learned counsel for the Management of the School, it is a Higher Secondary School for all purposes from 1.6.1988 itself, though the Higher Secondary Classes were actually opened from 30.7.1988. The Management passed an order on 27.7.1988 reverting the appellant from the post of Headmaster and posted him as B.T. Assistant in the Higher Secondary School with effect from the forenoon of 30.7.1988. The reason given in the order is that consequent on the upgradation of the school, the appellant was not fully qualified to hold the post of Higher Secondary School Headmaster as per rules. Challenging the correctness of the order, the appellant filed an appeal before the Joint Director of Schools (Education). By order dated 9.7.1990 the Joint Director allowed the appeal and set aside the order of reversion. Relying on G.O.Ms.No.720, Education, dated 28.4.1981 and G.O.Ms.No.1514, Education, dated 23.9.1988, the Joint Director held that the appellant