High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeDisposed of

Jaina Jose C., Leena C.J., Leya Paul P. v. State of Kerala and Others

Case / Petition Number:WP(C) No. 6934 of 2022
Neutral Citation:/

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • Raja Vijayaraghavan V
Judgment Date
2022-06-03
Court Decision / Holding
The writ petition is disposed of. The 1st respondent is directed to consider and pass orders on Exhibits P19, P20, and P21 representations with notice to the petitioners and the 5th respondent, and to decide expeditiously within three months. While considering, the Government should treat managers as having executed the bond and ensure appointments from the protected-teachers list equal to the number of appointments approved during the ban period; orders shall be subject to final Apex Court orders.
Final Disposition
Disposed of

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Jaina Jose.C
  • Leena C.J
  • Leya Paul P

Respondents

  • The State of Kerala represented by its Secretary to Government, General Education Department, Secretariat Annex II, Thiruvananthapuram 695 001
  • The Director of General Education, Jagathy, Thiruvananthapuram 695 014
  • The District Educational Officer Chavakkad, Thrissur District 680 506
  • The Assistant Educational Officer Kunnamk ulam, Thrissur District 680 503
  • Manager St. M.M C U P School, Kanipayur, Thrissur District 680 517
  • The Headmaster St. M.M C U P School, Kanipayur, Thrissur District 680 517

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • V. Rajasekharan Nair
  • • M. H. Shajahan Rawther

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Sri Premchand R Nair, Sr GP

Case Synopsis & Summary

The petitioners, three UPSAs (unified primary school assistants) at St. M.M C U P School, Kanipayur, Thrissur, challenge the denial of approval for their appointments during an “additional division vacancy” period spanning 2006–2009. The first petitioner was appointed from 17.08.2006 (Ext. P1); the second from 11.09.2006 (Ext. P5); the third from 01.06.2007 (Ext. P12). They contend that the government ban on appointments in additional vacancies, first imposed by G.O.(P) No.317/2005/G.Edn. (17.08.2005) and later lifted by G.O.(P) No.10/10/G.Edn (12.01.2010) with conditions, prevented timely approvals and that the manager’s failure to execute a bond should not deprive them of relief. The conditions required managers to sign a consent/bond and to proportion appointments to protected teachers to match those made during the ban; this framework culminated in G.O.(P) No.199/2011/G.Edn (01.06.2011) approving a comprehensive teacher package, with the petitioners included for regularisation from 01.06.2011. The petitioners argue that other similarly placed teachers have been granted relief and that bonds may be deemed executed even if not actually signed. The Government Pleader urges a strict 1:1 apportionment unless bonds are executed. The court relies on the Suma Devi (supra) ruling to deem bonds executed and directs the government to decide Exhibits P19–P21 representations within three months, subject to Apex Court orders, disposing of the petition.

Provisions of Law Cited

G.O.(P) No.317/2005/G.Edn dated 17-08-2005G.O.(P) No.10/10/G.Edn dated 12-01-2010G.O.(P)No.199/2011/G.Edn dated 01-06-2011

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Bond deemed to have been executed by the Manager in absence of actual execution; managers would be obliged to make appointments from the list of protected teachers equal to the number of appointments approved during the ban period.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

Applicants contended that ban-period appointments should be regularised by deeming bonds executed, that equal protection should be afforded under the protected-teachers framework, and that representations (Exhs. P19–P21) deserve hearing and favorable action in light of Suma Devi (supra). They request immediate disposal with directions to approve their appointments from the date of appointment in accordance with the protective-bond doctrine.

Contentions of Respondents

Respondents submitted that all appointments in additional division vacancies are to be apportioned in a 1:1 ratio and that, absent an executed bond, managers cannot be compelled to make such appointments; urged that some petitions are pending final verdicts in apex court and that relief must await those outcomes.

Cited Precedents (2)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
State of Kerala and Ors. v. V. Suma Devi and Ors.W.A. No. 2111/2015PositiveCourt adopts the Suma Devi ruling that where bonds are not executed, they are deemed executed and managers must provide an equal number of protected-teacher appointments when such appointments are approved during the ban.
Judgment in W.A No. 2290/2015W.A. No. 2290/2015Mentioned OnlyExhibit P18 references this judgment; it is cited as background or corroborative material but is not directly discussed in the reasoning.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

**WP(C) NO. 6934 OF 2022** **1** ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V FRIDAY, THE 3[RD] DAY OF JUNE 2022 / 13TH JYAISHTA, 1944 WP(C) NO. 6934 OF 2022** ## **PETITIONER/S:** 1 JAINA JOSE.C AGED 40 YEARS W/O. SURAJ SIMON, UPSA, ST. M.M C U P SCHOOL, KANIPAYUR, THRISSUR DISTRICT-680 517 (RESIDING AT CHERUVATHUR HOUSE, PORKKALANGAD, KUNNAMKULAM, THRISSUR DISTRICT 680 517) 2 LEENA C.J AGED 44 YEARS W/O. BINU P ABRAHAM, UPSA, ST. M.M M C U P SCHOOL, KANIPAYUR, THRISSUR DISTRICT 680 517 (RESIDING AT PULIKKOTTIL HOUSE, PAZHANJI, THRISSUR DISTRICT 680 542) 3 LEYA PAUL P AGED 40 YEARS W/O. ANIL K SAMUEL, UPSA, ST. M.M M C U P SCHOOL, KANIPAYUR, THRISSUR DISTRICT 680 517 (RESIDING AT KOLLANOOR HOUSE, KUNNAMKULAM, THRISSUR DISTRICT 680 505 BY ADVS. V.RAJASEKHARAN NAIR M.H.SHAJAHAN RAWTHER ## **RESPONDENT/S:** 1 THE STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT ANNEXE II, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 001 2 THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION, JAGATHY, THIRUVANANT4HAPURAM 695 014 **WP(C) NO. 6934 OF 2022** **2** 3 THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER CHAVAKKAD, THRISSUR DISTRICT 680 506 4 THE ASSISTANT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER KUNNAMKULAM, THRISSUR DISTRICT 680 503 5 MANAGER ST. M.M C U P SCHOOL, KANIPAYUR, THRISSUR DISTRICT 680 517 6 THE HEADMASTER ST. M.M C U P SCHOOL, KANIPAYUR, THRISSUR DISTRICT 680 517 SRI PREMCHAND R NAIR, SR GP THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03.06.2022, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: **WP(C) NO. 6934 OF 2022** **3** ## **JUDGMENT** The petitioners contend that they were working as UPSAs in the St. M.M.C.U.P. School, Kanipayur. According to the 1st petitioner, she was appointed as UPSA in the aforesaid school against an anticipated additional division vacancy with effect from 17.08.2006 as per Ext.P1 order. The 2nd petitioner was appointed as UPSA in the aforesaid school with effect from 11.09.2006 onwards against an additional division vacancy as per Ext.P5 order and the 3rd petitioner was appointed as UPSA in the aforesaid school with effect from 01.06.2007 onwards against an additional division vacancy as per Ext.P12 order. 2. The grievance of the petitioners is with regard to the refusal on the part of the respondents to grant approval of their appointments for the period from 17.08.2006 to 31.05.2007, 11.09.2006 to 01.06.2008 and 01.06.2007 to 01.06.2009 respectively. 3. It is contended by the petitioners that the Government had, as per G.O.(P) No.317/2005/G.Edn. dated 17.8.2005, imposed a ban on the appointment of teachers and non-teaching staff in additional division vacancies. Later, by G.O.(P) No.10/10/G.Edn. dated 12.1.2010, the ban on appointments **WP(C) NO. 6934 OF 2022** **4** was lifted subject to certain conditions. One among the conditions was that the Managers should execute a consent letter undertaking that in future vacancies, protected teachers equal to the number of teachers, appointed to the additional division vacancies during the period 2006-07 to 2009-10, would be appointed. Thereafter, the Government issued G.O.(P)No.199/2011/G.Edn dated 01.06.2011 approving the recommendations for implementation of the comprehensive teacher’s package for appointment of deployed/protected teachers. The petitioners were also included in the package and their appointments were regularised with effect from 1.6.2011. According to the petitioners, similarly placed teachers had approached this Court and by various judgments, this Court had directed the respondents to approve the appointment from the date of appointment by deeming that the manager has executed the bond. It is contended that the petitioners have filed Exhibits P19, P20, and P21 representations before the Government seeking approval of their appointments treating that the manager has executed the bond. 4. Sri. V. Rajasekharan Nair, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that it is settled by now that even in cases wherein, bonds have not been executed by the Manager, the Managers would be deemed to **WP(C) NO. 6934 OF 2022** **5** have executed the bond and they would be obliged to make appointments from the list of protected teachers, equal to the number of appointments approved during the ban period. Though various other prayers were sought, when the matter came up for consideration, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the representations submitted by the petitioners be heard and disposed of in the light of the law laid down by this court. 5. The learned Government Pleader, on instructions, submitted that all appointments in additional division vacancies are liable to be apportioned in the ratio of 1:1 and if the appointment of the protected teacher is not done as provided in G.O.(P) No.10/10/G.Edn. dated 12.1.2010, then the Manager ought to have executed a bond stating that such appointments would be made in accordance with the provisions of the Government Order. It is further submitted that some of the Managers have challenged G.O.(P) No.10/10/G.Edn. dated 12.1.2010 and those matters are now pending before the Apex Court. 6. In the nature of the order that I propose to pass, notice to the party respondents is dispensed with. 7. I have considered the submissions advanced. The writ petitioners **WP(C) NO. 6934 OF 2022** **6** were appointed during the period when the ban, pursuant to G.O.(P) No.10/10/G.Edn. Dated 12.1.2010, was in force. The appointments of the petitioners were approved only with effect from 1.6.2011 on the ground that there was a ban on appointments at the time of their initial appointment and that the Manager had failed to execute the bond in terms of G.O.(P)No.10/10. A Division Bench of this Court in State of Kerala and Ors. v. V.S.Suma Devi and Ors . [judgment dated 1.8.2017 in W.A.No.2111/2015], has held that in the case of non-execution of the bond by the Managers, it should be deemed that bonds have been executed and the Managers would be obliged to make an equal number of appointments when the appointments to additional vacancies made during the ban period are approved. Insofar as the pendency of the petitions instituted by the Managers before the Hon’ble Apex Court is concerned, the orders passed shall be subject to the final orders that may be passed by the Apex Court in the pending litigation. 8. After having carefully evaluated the contentions raised in this writ petition, the submissions made across the Bar, and the facts and circumstances, I am of the view that this writ petition can be disposed of by issuing the following directions: **WP(C) NO. 6934 OF 2022** **7** a) The 1st respondent is directed to take up consider and pass orders on Exhibits P19, P20, and P21 representations filed by the petitioners with notice to the petitioners as well as the 5th respondent and take a decision, taking note of the law laid down by this Court in Suma Devi (supra). Orders shall be passed expeditiously, in any event, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. b) While considering the representations, the Secretary to Government shall bear in mind that the Managers would be deemed to have executed the bond and also that they would be obliged to make appointments from the list of protected teachers equal to the number of appointments approved during the ban period. It is made clear that the orders passed by the 1st respondent shall be subject to the final orders passed by the Apex Court in the pending petitions. c) It would be open to the petitioners to produce a copy of the **WP(C) NO. 6934 OF 2022** **8** writ petition along with the judgment before the concerned respondent for further action. The writ petition is disposed of. **Sd/-** **RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V** **JUDGE** NS **WP(C) NO. 6934 OF 2022** **9** ## **APPENDIX OF WP(C) 6934/2022** PETITIONER(S) EXHIBITS : Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT ORDER OF THE 1ST PETITIONER DATED 17-08-2006 Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF ORDER NO. B1/502/07/K.DIS DATED 22-06-2007 BY THE DEO, CHAVAKKAD Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF THE REVISION PETITION DATED 12-07-2007 SUBMITTED BEFORE THE DIRECTOR, BY THE MANAGER Exhibit P4 TRUE COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT ORDER OF THE 1ST PETITIONER DATED 01-06-2007 Exhibit P5 TRUE COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT ORDER OF THE 2ND PETITIONER DATED 11-09-2006 Exhibit P6 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. B 3260/2006/L.DIS DATED 03-01-2007 OF THE AEO KUNNAMKULAM Exhibit P7 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. B1/501/07/K.DIS DATED 23-06-2007 OF THE DEO, CHAVAKKAD Exhibit P8 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. F2/77777/07/DPI/K/DIS DATED 17-03-2008 Exhibit P9 TRUE COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT ORDER OF 2ND PETITIONER DATED 01-06-2007 Exhibit P10 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. B 24802007/L.DIS DATED 29-12-2007 BY THE AEO, KUNNAMKULAM Exhibit P11 TRUE COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT ORDER OF THE 2ND PETITIONER DATED 02-06-2008 Exhibit P12 TRUE COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT ORDER OF THE 3RD PETITIONER DATED 01-06-2007 Exhibit P13 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. B/2483/2007/K.DIS DATED 29-12-2007 BY THE AEO KUNNAMKULAM **WP(C) NO. 6934 OF 2022** **10** |Exhibit P14|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.| |---|---| ||B1/1431/08/K.DIS DATED 15-11-2008 BY THE| ||DEO, CHAVAKKAD| |Exhibit P15|TRUE COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT ORDER OF THE| ||3RD PETITIONER DATED 02-06-2008| |Exhibit P16|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.B/1820/08/L.DIS| ||DATED 10-10-2008 BY THE AEO, KUNNAMKULAM| |Exhibit P17|TRUE COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT ORDER OF THE| ||3RD PETITIONER DATED 01-06-2009| |Exhibit P18|TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT IN W.A NO.| ||2290/2015 DATED 25-07-2017.| |Exhibit P19|TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED| ||BY THE 1ST PETITIONER BEFORE THE| ||GOVERNMENT DATED 01-02-2022 (WITHOUT| ||EXHIBITS)| |Exhibit P20|TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED| ||BY THE 2ND PETITIONER BEFORE THE| ||GOVERNMENT DATED 01-02-2022 (WITHOUT| ||EXHIBITS)| |Exhibit P21|TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED| ||BY THE 3RD PETITIONER BEFORE THE| ||GOVERNMENT DATED 01-02-2022 (WITHOUT| ||EXHIBITS)| |RESPONDENT(S)|EXHIBITS : NIL|