High Court of KeralaDivision BenchW.P.(C) Nos. 18494/2009 and 18042/2010 dismisse...

C.N. Santhakumari Amma v. State of Kerala and Others

Case / Petition Number:WP(C).18494/2009 (F) & WP(C).18042/2010

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • A.M. Shaffique
  • Gopinath P.
Judgment Date
2021-01-20
Court Decision / Holding
W.P.(C) Nos.18494/2009 and 18042/2010 are dismissed; Ext.P11 order of government in 18494/2009 and Ext.P13 order in 18042/2010 call for no interference. Ext.P13 cannot run counter to express statutory provisions; part-time service converted to full-time under Ext.P13 cannot be counted toward seniority or for promotion as Headmaster/Headmistress.
Final Disposition
W.P.(C) Nos. 18494/2009 and 18042/2010 dismissed; Ext.P11 and Ext.P13 affirmed; no interference with government orders; Ext.P13 cannot override statutory provisions; part-time service with Full-Time benefits cannot be counted for seniority for Headmaster/Headmistress promotion.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • C.N. Santhakumari Amma, W/O N.P. Raj Mohanan Pillai, aged 49 years, High School Assistant (Sanskrit), MGM N.S.S. Higher Secondary School, Lakkattoor, Kottayam District

Respondents

  • The State of Kerala represented by the Secretary to Government, General Education Department, Secretariat, Trivandrum
  • The Director of Public Instruction, Jagathy, Thiruvananthapuram-14
  • The Deputy Director of Education, Kottayam District
  • The District Educational Officer, Kottayam District
  • The Manager, MGM N.S.S. Higher Secondary School, Lakkattoor, Kottayam District
  • Sri K.R. Vijayan Nair, MGM N.S.S. Higher Secondary School, Lakkattoor, Kottayam District

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Sri V.A. Muhammed
  • • Sri M. Sajjad

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Sri S.A. Anand
  • • Sri A.J. Varghese – Sr. Government Pleader
  • • Sri Peter Jose Christo
  • • Smt. N. Santha
  • • Sri K.V. Vimal
  • • Sri S.P. Aravindakshan Pillay

Case Synopsis & Summary

This is a pair of connected writ petitions (WP(C).18494 of 2009 (F) and WP(C).18042 of 2010) challenging whether a teacher who received Full-Time Teacher benefits under G.O. MS 62/73 can count that service for seniority and for promotion to Headmaster/Headmistress. The petitioner, a Sanskrit language teacher with postgraduate qualifications, was granted Full-Time benefits in 1994 but claimed that the entire period of service as a Full-Time teacher should be counted toward seniority and promotion. The Government contends that Ext.P13 (G.O. MS 62/73) is an executive order and does not override statutory Kerala Educational Rules (KER); it also argues that the provision is aimed at long-serving part-time teachers and does not convert posts. The matter raised a conflict between Lalitha v. State of Kerala (2008) and Meenakshikutty v. State of Kerala (2011) on whether Ext.P13 can affect seniority. The Division Bench examines Lalitha, Sreeramachandran, and Meenakshikutty, ultimately holding that Lalitha’s view is correct, Meenakshikutty is not the correct law in this context, and Ext.P13 cannot override statutory rules. The petitions are dismissed, with Ext.P11 and Ext.P13 not interfered with; the court clarifies that part-time service converted under Ext.P13 cannot be counted towards seniority for promotion as Headmaster and is not contrary to the KER provisions.

Provisions of Law Cited

G.O.(MS) No.62/73/S.Edn (2 May 1973)Kerala Educational Rules (KER)Chapter XIVA Rule 44AChapter XXIII Rule 6DChapter XXIII Rule 12Chapter XXIII Rule 1 (R.6(1))Chapter XIV A Rule 55Chapter I Rule 3Rule 3 of Chapter I of the Kerala Education RulesRule 6D of Chapter XXIII K.E.R.

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • There is no estoppel against the statute.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners contend that Ext.P13 (GO MS 62/73) extends Full-Time benefits to teachers and that the entire service from the date of grant of Full-Time benefit must be counted toward seniority/length of service for promotion as Headmaster/Headmistress. They rely on Meenakshikutty (2011) distinguishing Lalitha and contend Ext.P13 aims to treat Full-Time beneficiaries for all intents and purposes, including promotion. They argue there is nothing in Rule 44A of Chapter XIV A of the KER prohibiting such counting and challenge the Government’s interpretation that the clause (vi) of Ext.P13 only supports long-serving part-time teachers.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents submit Ext.P13 is an executive order with no override of statutory rules. It does not convert part-time posts as a general rule and must be read in light of Rule 6D, Chapter XXIII KER. They rely on the rule-based framework (Kerala Education Rules) that restricts counting of service that is not strictly in accord with statutory provisions. They contend Meenakshikutty (2011) does not lay down the correct law and that Sreeramachandran (2002) is not a binding authority on how Ext.P13 interacts with the statutory provisions. They emphasize that Lalitha’s view and Division Bench affirmations do not extend to counting every part-time period as qualifying service for Headmaster/Headmistress promotion.

Cited Precedents (4)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Lalitha v. State of Kerala2008 (1) KLT 416PositiveCourt endorses Lalitha’s reasoning that Ext.P13 cannot override statutory provisions; Lalitha’s view is affirmed.
Sreeramachandran v. State of Kerala2002 (2) KLT 428DistinguishedCourt states Sreeramachandran cannot be treated as binding authority for counting full-time service in this context.
Meenakshikutty v. State of Kerala2011 (1) KLT 1032DistinguishedCourt holds Meenakshikutty does not lay down the correct law; Ext.P13 cannot override statutory provisions.
W.A.No.2892/2007Division Bench (affirming Lalitha)PositiveDivision Bench affirmed Lalitha’s view; supports maintaining Lalitha’s interpretation.

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Extracted Judgment Text

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## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** ## **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.M.SHAFFIQUE** **&** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE GOPINATH P.** **WEDNESDAY, THE 20TH DAY OF JANUARY 2021 / 30TH POUSHA, 1942** **WP(C).No.18494 OF 2009(F)** ## **PETITIONER:** **C.N.SANTHAKUMARI AMMA,W/O.N.P.RAJ MOHANAN PILLAI, AGED 49 YEARS,, HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT (SANSKRIT),, M.G.M.N.S.S. HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL,, LAKKATTOOR, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT.** **BY ADVS. SRI.V.A.MUHAMMED SRI.M.SAJJAD** ## **RESPONDENTS:** **1 THE STATE OF KERALA BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,, GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT,, TRIVANDRUM. 2 THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION,JAGATHY, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-14.** - **3 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION,KOTTAYAM DISTRICT.** - **4 THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER,KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 5 THE MANAGER,M.G.M.N.S.S. HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL,, LAKKATTOOR, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT.** - **6 SRI.K.R.VIJAYAN NAIR,M.G.M.N.S.S. HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL,, LAKKATTOOR, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT.** - **R1 BY ADV. SRI.S.A.ANAND R1 BY SRI.AJ. VARGHESE – SR.GOVERNMENT PLEADER R1 BY ADV. SRI.PETER JOSE CHRISTO R1 BY ADV. SMT.N.SANTHA R1 BY ADV. SRI.K.V.VIMAL R6 BY ADV. SRI.S.P.ARAVINDAKSHAN PILLAY** ## **OTHER PRESENT:** **SRI. A.J. VARGHESE-SR. G.P.** **THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 13-01-2021, ALONG WITH WP(C).18042/2010(E), THE COURT ON 20-01-2021 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 2 ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** # **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.M.SHAFFIQUE** ## **&** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE GOPINATH P.** **WEDNESDAY, THE 20TH DAY OF JANUARY 2021 / 30TH POUSHA, 1942** **WP(C).No.18042 OF 2010** ## **PETITIONER:** **C.N.SANTHAKUMARI AMMA W/O.N.P.RAJ MOHANAN PILLAI,AGED 49 YEARS,, HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT(SANKRIT),M.G.M.N.S.S.HIGHER, SECONDARY SCHOOL,LAKKATTOO,KOTTAYAM DISTRICT.** **BY ADVS. SRI.V.A.MUHAMMED SRI.M.SAJJAD** ## **RESPONDENTS:** **1 THE STATE OF KERALA AND OTHERS SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,GENERAL EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT,SECRETARIAT,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.** - **2 THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION JAGATHY,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-14.** - **3 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION,KOTTAYAM DISTRICT.** - **4 THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER,KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 5 THE MANAGERM.G.M.N.S.S.HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL,LAKKATTOO,KOTTAYAM DISTRICT.** - **6 SRI.K.R.VIJAYAN NAIRM.G.M.N.S.S.HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL,LAKKATTOOR,KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. R1 BY ADV. SRI.S.A.ANAND R1 BY SRI.A.J. VARGHESE – SR.GOVERNMENT PLEADER R1 BY ADV. SRI.PETER JOSE CHRISTO R1 BY ADV. SMT.N.SANTHA R6 BY ADV. SRI.S.P.ARAVINDAKSHAN PILLAY** **THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 13-01-2021, ALONG WITH WP(C).18494/2009(F), THE COURT ON 20-01-2021 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 3 ## **C.R.** ## **JUDGMENT** ## **[ WP(C).18494/2009, WP(C).18042/2010 ]** **Dated this the 20[th] day of January 2021** ## _**Gopinath, J.**_ W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 has been placed before the Division Bench on account of an order of reference dated 15.3.2018 of a learned Single Judge of this Court, noticing that there is a conflict of opinion in as much as the view taken by a learned Single Judge of this Court in _**Lalitha**_ v. _**State of Kerala; 2008(1)KLT 416**_ was not followed in _**Meenakshikutty**_ v. _**State of Kerala; 2011 (1) KLT 1032**_ on the premise that the view taken in _**Lalitha (supra)**_ was contrary to the judgment of a Division Bench in _**Sreeramachandran**_ v. _**State of Kerala; 2002 (2) KLT 428**_ . The learned single Judge noticed the fact that _**Lalitha's case (supra)**_ was affirmed (after _**Meenakshikutty (supra)**_ was decided) by a Division Bench in W.A.No.2892/2007. The connected Writ Petition, namely, W.P.(C)No.18042/2010 was also ordered to be tagged along with W.P.(C)No.18494/2009. It is accordingly that these cases are coming up before us for adjudication. W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 is the lead case and the Exhibits referred to in this judgment, unless otherwise indicated, are referred to as they are marked therein. W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 4 2. The short question that arises for our consideration is whether a teacher who got the benefit of a Full-Time Teacher in terms of clause (vi) of G.O.(MS)No.62/73/S.Edn dated 2.5.1973 is also entitled to count the period of service when they enjoyed the benefits of a Full-Time Teacher for the purposes of seniority and length of service for promotion as Headmaster/Headmistress. 3. The writ petitioner is a Postgraduate in Sanskrit with ' _Shiksha Sasthri'_ (B.Ed). By Ext.P5 order dated 16.11.1994, the petitioner was granted Full-Time benefits of High School Assistant following the stipulations contained in G.O.(MS)No.62/73/G.Edn dated 2.5.1973. On 31.3.2008, the then Headmaster of the School retired from service. Though the petitioner staked a claim for being appointed as the Headmistress, the Manager appointed the 6[th] respondent, who commenced regular service only from 5.6.1995. The District Educational Officer, as well as the Deputy Director of Education, held, at the instance of the petitioner, that the appointment of the 6[th] respondent was bad in law. By Ext.P11 order dated 15.6.2009, the Government, in revision, held as follows:- _“The matter was examined in detail. As per explanation to Rule 44A Chapter XIVA KER, Graduate service means all service of a teacher as H.S.A., T.S.A, Headmaster of an incomplete H.S. H.M of a complete UPS/middle school or H.M of a training school after acquisition of collegiate training such as B.T.L.T or B.Ed. But in the case of such teachers appointed prior to 15/10/1957, their untrained service after graduation shall also be reckoned as “Graduate Service”, provided that their appointments were not in accordance with the Madras_ W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 5 _Educational Rules. This is not pertained to a part time teacher enjoying full time benefit but to a full time H.S.A The clause (vi) of G.O.(MS) 62/73/S.Edn dated 2/5/1973 does not enable conversion of a part time post to full time. Such a provision in the Government order is intended to support a part time teacher who would be continuing for a long period in service and drawing only the emoluments of a part time teacher or in the other words, the application of clause (vi) of the G.O said above is only on the basis of the teachers and not on the basis of the post. If G.O.(MS) No.62/73/S.Edn dated 2/5/1973 enables conversion of a part time post to full time it will become contrary to the statutory provision in Rule 6D Chapter XXIII KER. The G.O. Dated 2/5/1973 has no over riding effect on rule 6D Chapter XXIII KERs._ _In the circumstances stated above, Government find that the services of Smt. Santhakumari w.e.f. 1/8/1994 to 14/7/05 cannot be treated as “Graduate Service” for promotion as H.M. Hence the order of DDE, Kottayam is set aside and Sri. K.R. Vijayan Nair is eligible to be promoted to H.M of the school.”_ The petitioner has, therefore, approached this Court through W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 challenging Ext.P11 order. The connected Writ Petition namely, W.P.(C)No.18042/2010 was filed by the petitioner in W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 challenging an order through which the Government directed that the appointment of the 6[th] respondent as Principal shall be approved. 4. The learned counsel for the petitioner in both the writ petitions would contend with reference to Ext.P13, which is a copy of G.O.(MS)No.62/73/G.Edn. dated 2.5.1973, that once the benefit of Full Time has been extended to teachers like the petitioner, the entire service from the date of grant of Full Time benefit has also to be counted towards seniority/length of service etc., for being considered for promotion as W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 6 Headmaster/Headmistress. It is contended that there is nothing in Rule 44A of Chapter XIVA of the Kerala Education Rules, which would prohibit the counting of such service. It is submitted that the issue stands covered in favour of the petitioner by virtue of the judgment of this Court in _**Meenakshikutty (supra)**_ , wherein a learned single Judge, following a Division Bench judgment of this Court in _**Sreeramachandran (supra),**_ distinguished the judgment in _**Lalitha (supra)**_ and held that the object of Ext.P13 Government Order is to treat the Teacher granted Full-Time benefits as a Full-Time Teacher for all intents and purposes including consideration of such service for appointment as Headmaster/Headmistress. 5. The learned Government Pleader and the learned counsel for the 6[th] respondent would however contend that _**Meenakshikutty (supra)**_ was decided on 17.2.2011 and that on that date an appeal against the judgment in _**Lalitha (supra)**_ was pending before a Division Bench of this Court as W.A.No.2892/2007. It is submitted that, on 11.4.2012, W.A.No.2892/2007 challenging the judgment of the learned single Judge in _**Lalitha (supra)**_ was affirmed by a Division Bench of this Court. It is also submitted that a reading of the judgment of the Division Bench in _**Sreeramachandran (supra)**_ shows that this Court has not specifically considered or answered the question as to whether the period of service rendered by a Part-Time Teacher to whom the Full-Time benefits were extended in terms of Ext.P13 Government Order was entitled to count such W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 7 service for consideration for promotion to the post of Headmaster. It is also submitted that the view taken by the learned single Judge in _**Meenakshikutty (supra)**_ that Ext.P13 was issued in exercise of the powers conferred by Rule 3 of Chapter I of the Kerala Education Rules is misplaced. Reference is also made to Rule 6D of Chapter XXIII of the Kerala Education Rules to show that unless there is a minimum of 15 periods per week, there cannot be a Full Time post in respect of a Language Teacher. 6. We have considered the contentions raised by either side. 7. _**Lalitha (supra),**_ considered the question also with reference to the Division Bench judgment in _**Sreeramachandran (supra)**_ . In paragraph 10 of the judgment in _**Lalitha (supra)**_ , the learned single Judge held as follows:- _“10. After laying down in R.6 (1) of that Chapter, among other things, that if the number of periods per week for Sanskrit language is below 15, there could be one part-time post, R.12 in Chap.XXIII, K.E.R. obliges staff fixation. The statutory staff fixation order that could be issued under R.12 has to be in consonance with the other provisions of the K.E.R. and the Act. During the relevant time, the distribution of periods in terms of the curriculum policy framework then in existence was, among other things, that there has to be four periods for Sanskrit per week in each class/division. The staff fixation order of the school in question shows that during the relevant and immediate previous years, Sanskrit was taught in three standards with one division each. This means that, applying R.6(1) of Chap. XXIII, the number of periods per week being 12, that is below 15, there could be only one part-time post. In terms of R.55 of Chap. XIV A, K.E.R., the number of permanent teachers under each category in the staff list of any school or any of the schools under an educational agency, shall not exceed the aggregate number of sanctioned posts under that category. The necessary consequence_ W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 8 _of an excess hand would be retrenchment. But, while that rule may not come into play in the case of Smt.Lalitha, she could have continued only as a part-time teacher in view of R.6(1) of Chap.XXIII.”_ ## Thereafter, considering the provisions of Ext.P13 Government Order, it was ## held thus:- _14. The first sentence of the afore-quoted provision deals with the application for a particular formula to certain categories of schools to which such formula was not applied earlier. The Government also decided that part-time teachers who have put in more than 5 years of service and have 8 periods of work shall henceforth be made full-time. The D.P.I. was to examine the utilisation of the services of those teachers who were the beneficiaries of that Government Order, for teaching regular classes and other subjects and giving them adequate work. This provision was to be effective from the academic year 1973-74. No statutory amendments were brought to K.E.R., to R.6(1) of Chap.XXIII, in particular, for the afore-quoted provision to have any overriding effect on the statutory force of R.6(1) of Chap.XXIII. This means that any benefit that a part-time teacher may get by virtue of the second sentence of cl.(vi) of G.O.(M.S.) 62/73 could only inure to that person and not to the part-time post that is held by that teacher. It would have been essentially the executive wisdom to provide aid and support to a part-time teacher who would be continuing for a long period in service while drawing only emoluments of a part-time teacher. While G.O.(M.S.)62/73 would enable such a teacher to continue to work and draw emoluments etc., in terms thereof, no right would legally accrue in favour of such incumbent to defeat any statutory right that may be available with any other teacher._ _15. In view of the aforesaid, the quality of the post held by Smt.Lalitha could only be that of a part-time teacher in terms of the staff fixation order and she could be permitted to continue to be treated as a full-time hand in terms of G.O.(M.S.) 62/73, This is exactly what is stated in Ext.R5(e) in W.P.(C).11114/04. As already noticed, the staff fixation orders do not concede that the post of the junior Sanskrit teacher in the U.P. School of the petitioner is a protected post. In law, that could not be. There is no estoppel against the statute. The statutory authorities, including the Government,could not have extended to Smt.Lalitha anything in excess of her statutory entitlements, at any rate, against the interest of Smt. Mary._ _16. The view in the preceding paragraph requires advertence to the Bench decision of this Court in Sreeramachandran (supra). A clear understanding of the facts that led to that judgment would_ W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 9 _show that in the staff fixation orders which were considered in that case, in the column for name of posts, after the word 'Hindi', it was stated “protected”, within brackets. The Bench was, therefore, of the view that such an entry only means that the post Hindi teacher is protected in terms of G.O.(M.S.) 62/73. That view was also fortified by the statements in column 11 of the staff fixation order dealt with in that case, as is discernible from para 4 of that judgment. In that case, it was stated “one protected post of F.T. Hindi teacher is sanctioned to give full time benefit to Sri.Subramanya, Hindi teacher in terms of G..O. (M.S.)62/73/G.Edn. dated 2.7.73”. It was in that context that cl. (vi) of G..O.(M.S.) 62/73 was read. It was rightly-noticed by the Bench that the said G..O. does not make any reference to any protection being given to the teacher and what is provided is for conversion of an existing part-time post to a full-time post, subject to certain conditions. The addition of the word 'protection' by the A.E.O. to the staff fixation order in that case was deprecated, particularly when the Governmental view favours the teacher. On the facts and the circumstances of that case, it can be easily noticed that the decision in Sreeramachandran (supra) rests exclusively on the facts of that case and I am unable to find way to apply that as a precedent on a question of law relating to the interpretation and application of the terms of G.O.(MS)62/73, which is only an executive order and which cannot run contrary to, or, in any manner, reduce the rigour of R.6 (1) in Chap. XXIII K.E.R._ _17. Smt.Lalitha, who continued as a full-time teacher on the strength of Cl. (vi) of G.O.(M.S.) 62/73 had not figured against any of the posts sanctioned as per the staff fixation orders, including for the relevant year. Therefore, even if she possesses the educational qualifications required for a graduate teacher, she was not a teacher who could have been treated as a member of the staff of the school, to be within the zone of consideration for appointment as Headmistress. Therefore, even if a graduate teacher is to be preferred to an under-graduate teacher in terms of R.45, Smt.Lalitha was not entitled to get preference over Smt.Mary in terms of that rule. Not only preference, she was not entitled to be treated as a “member of the staff” of the school or the educational agency to be considered for appointment as Headmistress.”_ A Division Bench of this Court considering the appeal filed against the judgment in _**Lalitha (supra)**_ did not in terms consider the effect of Ext.P13 Government Order and whether the provisions of Ext.P13 can run counter to the provisions in the Kerala Education Rules. However, the W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 10 Division Bench upheld the judgment of the learned single Judge in _**Lalitha (supra)**_ . _8_ . We have carefully considered the judgment of the Division Bench in _**Sreeramachandran (supra)**_ . On a reading of the same, we are of the considered opinion that the finding of the learned single Judge in _**Lalitha (supra)**_ that _**Sreeramachandran (supra)**_ did not, in any manner, consider the quality of the service rendered by a Part-Time Teacher, who obtained Full-Time benefits in terms of Ext.P13 Government Order, is correct in law. _**Sreeramachandran (supra)**_ as observed by the learned single Judge in _**Lalitha (supra)**_ cannot be treated as a precedent for the purposes of determining the question as to whether the service rendered by a Part-Time Teacher, who obtained Full-Time benefit by virtue of the terms contained in Ext.P13, is entitled to count such service as qualifying service for consideration for promotion to the post of Headmaster. In the facts of this case, we must notice the specific stand of the 6[th] respondent that a Full-Time post of HSA (Sanskrit) was sanctioned in the School in question only during the academic year 2005-2006. The Government through its counter affidavit dated 30.10.2020 in W.P(C)No.18494/2009 has also taken the specific stand that the provisions of clause (vi) of Ext.P13 Government Order is only intended to support a Part Time Teacher, who had rendered service for a long time by granting the emoluments and other benefits of Full Time Teacher and that it was W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 11 never intended to be in derogation of the prescriptions under Rule 6D of Chapter XXIII of the Kerala Education Rules. 9. We are therefore of the opinion that the view taken by the learned single Judge in _**Lalitha (supra)**_ as affirmed by the Division Bench in W.A.No.2892/2007 lays down the correct position in law. Regarding the quality of service of Part-Time Teachers, who got Full-Time benefits in terms of Ext.P13 Government Order, we hold that _**Meenakshikutty (supra)**_ does not lay down the correct law and that such service cannot count towards seniority or length of service for being considered for promotion as Headmaster/Headmistress. We also hold that _**Sreeramachandran (supra)**_ is no authority for the proposition that the entire service from the date on which Full Time benefit was extended to a Part-Time Teacher is to be counted towards seniority/length of service etc., for being considered for promotion as Headmaster. We also hold that Ext.P13 Government Order (G.O.(MS)No.62/73/S.Edn. dated 2.5.1973) is not issued in the exercise of power in terms of Rule 3 of Chapter I of the Kerala Education Rules or in derogation or overriding any statutory provision. We, therefore, hold that Ext.P13 cannot run counter to express statutory provisions and therefore, the Teachers, who got Full Time benefit by virtue of clause (vi) of Ext.p13 Government Order, are not entitled to count the service rendered as a Part-Time Teacher with Full-Time benefits towards seniority or as qualifying service for being considered for W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 12 promotion as headmaster/headmistress. We answer the reference accordingly. 10. In the light of our findings, as above, nothing survives to be adjudicated in these writ petitions and accordingly we dismiss the writ petitions finding that Ext.P11 order of the Government in W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 and Ext.P13 order of the Government in W.P.(C)No.18042/2010 calls for no interference. **Sd/-** **A.M.SHAFFIQUE** **JUDGE** **Sd/GOPINATH P. JUDGE** **acd** W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 13 ## **APPENDIX OF WP(C) 18494/2009** ## **PETITIONER'S/S EXHIBITS:** **EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF THE PETITIONER DATED 24/10/1997. EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF THE PETITIONER DATED25/05/1998.** **EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF THE PETITIONER DATED NIL.** **EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF THE PETITIONER DATED 12/10/199. EXHIBIT P5 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. K.DIS. 19544/94/B4 OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR DATED 16/11/1994. EXHIBIT P6 TRUE COPY OF THE STAFF STATEMENT OF THE CHOOL. EXHIBIT P7 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. B3-2852/08/L.DIS OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER DATED 15/05/2006. EXHIBIT P8 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. B49997/2008/K.DIS OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION DATED 15/12/2008. EXHIBIT P9 TRUE COPY OF THE REVISION PETITION FILED BY THE 6TH RESPONDENT DATED 22/01/2009. EXHIBIT P10 TRUE COPY OF THE -DO- PETITIONER DATED 22/01/2009. EXHIBIT P11 TRUE COPY OF THE GO(RT) NO.2368/2009/G.EDN. OF THE GOVERNMENT DATED 15/06/2009. EXHIBIT P12 TRUE COPY OF THE GO(P) NO.247/2001/G.EDN. OF THE GOVERNMENT DATED 03/08/2001. EXHIBIT P13 TRUE COPY OF THE GO(MS) NO.62/73/S. EDN. OF THE GOVERNMENT DATED 02/05/1973. EXHIBIT P14 TRUE COPY OF THE GO(MS) NO.50/79/G.EDN. OF THE GOVERNMENT DATED 29/03/1979.** W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 14 **EXHIBIT P15 TRUE COPY OF THE DECISION REPORTED IN 2011(1) KLT 1032 DATED 17/02/2011.** ## **RESPONDENT'S/S EXHIBITS:** **EXHIBIT R6(A) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. D.DIS.4656/04/B3 DATED NIL. OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, KOTTAYAM. EXHIBIT R6(B) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. B3-5763/05 DATED 29/10/2005 OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, KOTTAYAM. EXHIBIT R6(C) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. B3-4763/2007 DATED 08/08/2007 OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, KOTTAYAM.** W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 15 ## **APPENDIX OF WP(C) 18042/2010** ## **PETITIONER'S/S EXHIBITS:** **EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF THE PETITIONER DATED 06/06/2010. EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF THE PETITIONER DATED 24/10/1997. EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF THE PETITIONER. EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF THE PETITIONER DATED 12/10/1990.** **EXHIBIT P5 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. K.DIS.19544/94/B4 OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR DATED 16/11/1994. EXHIBIT P6 TRUE COPY OF THE STAFF STATEMENT OF THE SCHOOL. EXHIBIT P7 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. B3-2852/08/L.DIS OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER DATED 15/05/2006. EXHIBIT P8 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. B49997/2008/K.DIS. OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION DATED 15/12/2008. EXHIBIT P9 TRUE COPY OF THE REVISION PETITION FILED BY THE 6TH RESPONDENT DATED 22/01/2009. EXHIBIT P10 TRUE COPY OF THE -DO- PETITIONER DATED 22/01/2009. EXHIBIT P11 TRUE COPY OF THE GO(RT) NO.2368/2009/G.EDN. OF THE GOVERNMENT DATED 15/06/2009. EXHIBIT P12 TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER OF THE HON'BLE COURT IN WPC NO.18494/2009-F DATED 27/10/2009. EXHIBIT P13 TRUE COPY OF THE GO(RT) NO.1957/2010/G.EDN. OF THE GOVERNMENT DATED 10/05/2010.** W.P.(C)No.18494/2009 & conn.case 16 ## **RESPONDENT'S/S EXHIBITS:** **EXHIBIT R6(A) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. D.DIS.4656/04/B3 DATED NIL. OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, KOTTAYAM. EXHIBIT R6(B) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. B3-5763/05 DATED 29/10/2005 OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, KOTTAYAM. EXHIBIT R6(C) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. B3-4763/2007 DATED 08/08/2007 OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, KOTTAYAM.**