ASSISTANT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER KUTHUPARAMBA Vs. P R MAMMOO

JUDGEMENT

(1.) On the writ petitions, O. P. Nos. 1688 and 1903 of 1965, disposed of by a common judgment, Mathew J. has held R.67(1) of the Kerala Education Rules, 1959, "in so far it authorises the various educational authorities and the Government to suspend a teacher" of an aided school to be "repugnant to S.12(2)" of the Kerala Education Act, 1958; and that has been followed by the learned Judge in O. P. No. 1461 of 1966. The State challenges those decisions in Writ Appeal Nos. 206, 207 and 245 of 1966 and a Division Bench has referred them to a Full Bench. As the appeals awaited hearing, O. P. No. 1419 of 1967, in which a penalty of reduction in rank imposed by a Regional Deputy Director of Public Instruction on the headmaster of an aided school is challenged on ground of a like incomepetency, has also been posted to be heard along with them. It is clarified at the bar that the particular rules relevant to the O. P. are R.75 and 77 of the Kerala Education Rules. Thus, the question in these cases is the validity of the empowerment of departmental authorities to suspend and punish teachers of aided schools under R.67, 75 and 77 of the Kerala Education Rules, 1959.

(2.) The above mentioned rules have been made by the Government of Kerala as amendments to the original rules issued in 1959 and are published in the Kerala Gazette dated 2nd February 1965. The main controversy is about the rules being consistent with S.11 and 12 of the Kerala Education Act, 1958. The learned Judge has observed that at the time the Act was passed, the Managers of aided schools had exclusive power of appointment, dismissal and suspension of teachers (inclusive of the headmaster) therein and that the policy of the Act is to affirm that preexisting power of the Manager, subject to restrictions upon the exercise thereof mentioned in the Act. The learned Government Pleader, Shri Kuruvilla, urges that a consideration of conditions before the Act may not be of assistance in assessing the powers of Managers after the Act has come in force, as all the Managers are now statutory authorities "appointed under the Act" and therefore having powers and disabilities as provided in the Act only. We find force in that submission as the Explanation to S.7(1) of the Act provides:

(3.) S.11 and 12 of the Act read thus: