The court mandated timely consideration of management disputes in educational institutions to prevent unauthorized salary disbursements.

J U D G M E N T

Dated this the 18^th day of December, 2025 The dispute regarding management of the Karuvanchery Upper Primary School has led to the filing of this writ petition. The school in question is an aided school within the jurisdiction of the Assistant Educational Officer, Vadakara. The petitioner was the approved manager of the school till 28.04.2023. His complaint is that the login credentials of the school, to enable uploading of details in the Samanwaya Portal was obtained by the 4^th respondent by forging the petitioner’s signature. The petitioner alleges that, using the login credentials thus obtained, the 4^th respondent got certain illegal appointments made by him, approved. Even though petitioner has taken up the matter with the educational authorities, the issue is yet to be resolved and, in the meanwhile, proceedings are being initiated to pay wages/ salary to the persons illegally appointed.

2. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that, in spite of the Assistant Educational Officer declining to pass orders on the request for sanctioning salary/ wages to persons illegally appointed in the school, in view of the pendency of the dispute between the petitioner and the 4^th respondent, the Director of General Education passed Exhibit P21 order sanctioning the request for disbursal of salary/ wages. Therefore the petitioner has preferred Exhibit P23 before the Government which is yet to be taken up for consideration. The petitioner’s concern is that while Exhibit P23 is pending consideration, the salary of persons illegally appointed will be disbursed on the strength of Exhibit P21 order. Therefore, learned Counsel prays for a direction to consider Exhibit P23 expeditiously and to interdict the payment of salary/

wages till then.

3. Learned Government Pleader submits that Exhibit P21 was passed after considering all relevant aspects and even if there is a direction to consider Exhibit P23, disbursal of salary to the appointed persons shall not be stayed.

4. Having heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader, this Court is also of the considered opinion that while Exhibit P23 is bound to be considered at the earliest, it will be inappropriate to interdict payment of salary/ wages to the persons appointed.

5. The writ petition is hence disposed of by directing the 1^st respondent to take up Exhibit P23, provided the representation is received and pending, and pass a reasoned order thereon after affording opportunity of hearing to the petitioner as well as the affected persons.

The order as directed above shall be passed within two months of receipt of a copy of this judgment.

Sd/-