V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN, J.

These 5 writ appeals arise out of a common order passed by the learned Judge in 3 writ petitions, 2 of which related to the replacement of a Principal and Secretary of a college and the third related to the dismissal from service of the incumbent in the post of Principal.

2. We have heard Mr. T.R. Rajagopalan, Mr. AL. Somayaji and Mr. N.R. Chandran, learned senior counsel appearing for the appellants in 4 writ appeals and Mr. Issac Mohanlal, learned counsel appearing for the appellant in W.A. No. 312 of 2009 and also the contesting respondent in the other writ appeals, Mr. R. Thiagarajan, learned senior counsel appearing for the fourth respondent in W.A. Nos. 796 and 797 of 2008, Mr.V.R. Venkatesan, learned counsel appearing for the Enquiry Officer, who is the sixth and seventh respondent respectively in W.A. No. 796 and 797 of 2008.

3. That it is possible at times, due to irony of fate, for an insignificant event to get flared up into a huge controversy, is amply demonstrated by the batch of cases on hand. In a nutshell, one simple leave application by the Principal of a College led to (i) the appointment of the Vice Principal in his place, (ii) the sus