A LEELAMMA Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is working as a Headmistress-in- charge in Chempakassery Teachers' Training Institute, Bhoothakulam, Kollam District. She was appointed as Headmistress as per Ext.P1 order of appointment dated 27.3.2008. Ext.P1 order was signed by the joint managers. It would appear that there was management dispute. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that while making the appointment of the petitioner as Headmistress, both the rival claimants for managership put their signature in the appointment order. The proposal for approval of appointment was forwarded to the District Educational Officer, Kollam, who passed Ext.P2 order dated 7.7.2008, which reads as follows:

(2.) Thereafter, the District Educational Officer passed an order dated 8.7.2009 (Ext.P3), rejecting the proposal for appointment of the petitioner as Headmistress from 1.1.2009 onwards on the ground that the proposal was received in the office only on 28.1.2009, that is, beyond 15 days. The Joint Managers challenged Ext.P3 order in appeal before the Deputy Director of Education, who disposed of the appeal as per Ext.P4 order dated 31.12.2009, the operative portion of which reads as follows:

(3.) The grievance of the petitioner is that after Ext.P4 order dated 31.12.2009 was passed, the District Educational Officer has not passed any order for approval of appointment of the petitioner. The petitioner points out that in the resultant vacancy on the appointment of the petitioner as Headmistress, one K.R.Gopakumar was appointed and that appointment was approved by the appellate order passed by the Deputy Director of Education, dated 30.3.2010 (Ext.P5). Still, the District Educational Officer has not approved the appointment of the petitioner.