ANANDU PURUSHOTHAMAN Vs. SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners, who are stated to be working as Teachers in the N.Sreekandan Nair Sashtipoorthi Memorial Upper Primary School, Kollam, which is managed by the 6th respondent- Manager, have approached this Court impugning Ext.P12 order, however, to the limited extent that it approves their appointment from a future date and not from the date of their initial appointment. They say that Ext.P12, to the extent impugned, is grossly illegal and unlawful, particularly taking note of Ext.P13 Government Order; and therefore, pray that the same be set aside and the authorities be directed to grant them approval with effect from their initial dates of appointment.

(2.) In response to the afore submissions made on behalf of the petitioners by their learned counsel, Sri.K.S.Bharathan, the learned Senior Government Pleader, Smt.Nisha Bose, conceded that Ext.P12 order of the Assistant Educational Officer (AEO) does not appear to be adverting to Ext.P13 Government Order and therefore, that if this Court is so inclined, the AEO can be directed to reconsider the petitioners' request for approval from the date of their initial appointment, namely 23.07.2018 and 02.06.2016 respectively, adverting to the said order also.

(3.) When I examine the pleadings on record and assess the submissions made by the learned counsel for the parties as afore, it is indubitable that, through Ext.P12, the petitioners' appointment has been approved by the AEO, but the date of such approval has been fixed to be from a future date, namely when the schools reopen for the academic year 2020-21. As is now well known, no one can fix a date as to when the schools will reopen in Kerala on account of the Covid-19 pandemic scenario and am, therefore, certainly of the view that Ext.P12 cannot find my favour for that reason.