MOHANAN K. P. Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is a retired District Educational Officer. The petitioner's wife Smt. E.P. Pushpalatha was working as Head Mistress in Kunjithanni Government High School in Idukki District. She took charge as Head Mistress in the said school on 23.07.2014.

(2.) It is the case of the petitioner that on 06.03.2015, the 4th and 5th respondents who are the officials from the office of the Deputy Director of Education, Idukki went to the Kunjithanni Government High School under the guise of inspection and found that one clerk, namely, Anakha was continuously on leave. The 4th and 5th respondents demanded a statement in writing from the petitioner's wife regarding the absence of the said clerk and the salary collected by her. Petitioner's wife was not willing to give such statement forthwith in writing because she was busy with the SSLC examination to be held in couple of days. Petitioner's wife was threatened by the 4th respondent stating that she would face severe consequences if such a statement is not given. The 4th respondent was very aggressive and shouted and told that she would be put in jail etc; and the chair in that office was pushed away with force creating a scene in the office. She was also told that unless a statement is submitted by next day she would face severe consequences. Again in the evening, the 4th respondent telephoned the petitioner's wife and repeated the threat.

(3.) According to the petitioner, after the said incident, his wife was mentally stressed and on the next day, when she went to the school, she was nervous due to the threat caused by respondents 4 and 5 and could not concentrate on her duties. She went home little early and by about 7 'O' clock in the evening, she fell unconscious and was taken to Kolenchery Medical College Hospital and she was admitted therein due to sudden stroke in the brain. At the hospital, she had undergone major operation and other treatment. However, she died in the hospital on 11.03.2015. According to the petitioner, the threat of the respondents 4 and 5 and the resultant stroke led to her unfortunate demise.