High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeDisposed of

The Manager, KNMVHSS, Vatanappally v. State of Kerala and Others

Case / Petition Number:WP(C) No.14366 of 2025
Neutral Citation:2025:KER:30416

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • N. Nagareesh
Judgment Date
2025-04-07
Court Decision / Holding
The writ petition is disposed of directing the 1st respondent to consider and pass orders on Ext.P15 representation submitted by the petitioner within a period of four months in the light of Exts.P10 and P11.
Final Disposition
Disposed of

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • The Manager (Sadanandan K V), KNMVHSS, Vatanappally

Respondents

  • State of Kerala represented by its Principal Secretary to Government, General Education Department, Secretariat Annex II, Thiruvananthapuram
  • Director of General Education, Jagathy, Thiruvananthapuram
  • Deputy Director of Education, Ayant Hole, Thrissur District
  • District Educational Officer, Chavakkad, Thrissur District
  • The Principal, KNMVHSS, Vadanappally, Thrissur District

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • V.A. Muhammed
  • • M. Sajjad

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Sri. Santosh Kumar, SPL. Government Pleader

Case Synopsis & Summary

This writ petition (WP(C) No.14366 of 2025) filed by the manager of KNMVHSS, Vatanappally, challenges the denial of consequential benefits arising from the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPWD Act), which mandates a 4% reservation in appointments for persons with disabilities and applies to aided schools. The petitioner asserts that posts have been earmarked and vacancies created to receive differently-abled candidates, and that processing of such candidates is underway through the Employment Exchange, but other regular appointments under managements are being impeded for want of physical/documentary verification of qualified candidates. The petition contends that the NSS Management obtained an Apex Court order (Ext.P10, dated 04.03.2025) and the government issued Ext.P11 (dated 17.03.2025), but Ext.P11 appears to be applicable only to NSS-managed schools. The petitioner urges that the benefit of Exts.P10 and P11 should extend to similarly situated managements and that denial would be unjust, especially in light of the decisions in Central Finance & Investments v. Secretary, Kothamangalam Municipality (2021) and Somukuttan Nair v. State of Kerala (1997), which are cited to support the entitlement to such benefits. After hearing, the court notes that Ext.P15 representation is pending and disposes of the petition by directing the Government to consider Ext.P15 in light of Exts.P10 and P11, within four months. The judgment underscores the need for consistent application of welfare measures across similarly situated institutions while avoiding premature adjudication on broader issues pending a formal response to Ext.P15.

Provisions of Law Cited

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioner contends that the RPWD Act, 2016 mandates a 4% reservation in appointments for differently-abled persons and that this benefit must extend to aided schools. Exts.P10 and P11, issued in respect of the NSS Management, should similarly apply to other managements that are in a like situation. The pending Ext.P15 representation before the Government should be disposed of, taking Exts.P10 and P11 into account.

Contentions of Respondents

The Government defends the position that Ext.P10 and Ext.P11 pertain to the NSS Management and that the Apex Court's order would bind only the parties to the SLP. They argue that extending these benefits to all similarly situated managements requires a separate consideration and that Ext.P15 would be examined in due course.

Cited Precedents (2)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Central Finance and Investments and another v. Secretary, Kothamangalam Municipality and others2021 (6) KHC 59PositiveCited to support that benefits under Exts.P10 and P11 should not be denied to similarly situated parties and should be extended.
Somukuttan Nair v. State of Kerala1997 KHC 114PositiveCited as authority reinforcing entitlement to the benefits in question and similar considerations.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

``` 2025:KER:30416 ``` **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** # **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** # **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH ``` ``` MONDAY, THE 7[TH] DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 17TH CHAITHRA, 1947 ``` # **`WP(C) NO. 14366 OF 2025`** ## **`PETITIONER:`** ``` THE MANAGER (SADANANDAN K V), KNMVHSS, VATANAPPALLY AGED 75 YEARS S/O VELAYUDAN, THRITHALLUR, THRISSUR DISTRICT - 680 619 (RESIDING AT KALLARA HOUSE, KIZHAKKUMPATTUKARA, THRISSUR DISTRICT), PIN - 680005 ``` ``` BY ADVS. V.A.MUHAMMED M.SAJJAD ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** - **`1 THE STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT ANNEX II, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001`** - **`2 THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION JAGATHY,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014`** ## **`3 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AYANTHOLE, THRISSUR DISTRICT,`** ``` 2025:KER:30416 ``` **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ``` WP(C) NO.14366 of 2025 ``` ``` 2 ``` ## **`PIN - 680003`** - **`4 THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER CHAVAKKAD, THRISSUR DISTRICT, PIN - 680506`** ``` 5THE PRINCIPAL KNMVHSS, VADANAPPALLY, THRITHALLOOR, THRISSUR DISTRICT, PIN - 680619 ``` ## **`SRI.SANTHOSH KUMAR,SPL.GOVERNMENT PLEADER`** ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 07.04.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ## `2025:KER:30416` ``` WP(C) NO.14366 of 2025 3 ``` ## **JUDGMENT** Dated this the 7[th] day of April, 2025 The petitioner is the Manager of KNM VHSS, Vatanappally, an Aided School. The Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016 requires 4% reservation in appointments for differently abled hands. It is made applicable to the Aided Schools as well. The turn of appointments is also prescribed as 1, 26, 51, and 76 for differently abled hands. In compliance, the petitioner has set apart posts and vacancies to receive. 2. The petitioner has complied with the requirements covered by Exts.P1 and P2. Employment Exchange concerned is busy with the processing of candidates for the posts set apart for differently abled hands. Other appointments effected by the petitioner against regular posts **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:30416 ``` ``` WP(C) NO.14366 of 2025 4 ``` under the Management are not processed by the Educational Officer concerned for want of physical indictment of qualified differently abled hands. 3. In similar circumstances, the NSS Management moved the Apex Court and got Ext.P10 order dated 04.03.2025. Consequently, the Government issued Ext.P11 order dated 17.03.2025. But it would appear that Ext.P11 is applicable only in respect of the Schools under the NSS Management. The benefits flowing from Exts.P10 and P11 ought to have been made applicable in respect of the appointments under the Managements that are similarly situated. 4. In the light of the judgments in **Central Finance and Investments and another v. Secretary, Kothamangalam Municipality and others** [2021 (6) KHC 59] and **Somukuttan Nair v. State of Kerala** [1997 KHC 114], the benefits flowing from Exts.P10 and P11 cannot be denied **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:30416 ``` ``` WP(C) NO.14366 of 2025 5 ``` to the petitioner. In such circumstances, the petitioner filed Ext.P15 representation before the 1[st] respondent, which is pending consideration, contends the petitioner. 5. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Special Government Pleader representing the respondents. 6. I find that in similar circumstances, the NSS Management approached the Hon’ble Apex Court and the Apex Court has passed order dated 04.03.2025. The Government is taking a stand that the order will apply only to the parties to the SLP before the Hon’ble Apex Court. The petitioner would contend that there is absolutely no justification for the Government to deny consequential benefits to similarly situated persons. 7. Be that as it may, at this stage, I do not deem it necessary to adjudicate on the issue, as the petitioner has submitted Ext.P15 representation before the Government. It **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:30416 ``` ``` WP(C) NO.14366 of 2025 ``` ``` 6 ``` would be sufficient if the Government considers Ext.P15 representation in the light of the directions contained in Exts.P10 and P11. The writ petition is therefore disposed of directing the 1[st] respondent to consider and pass orders on Ext.P15 representation submitted by the petitioner within a period of four months in the light of Exts.P10 and P11. **N.NAGARESH** **JUDGE** hmh ``` 2025:KER:30416 ``` **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ``` WP(C) NO.14366 of 2025 ``` ``` 7 ``` ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 14366/2025`** ## **`PETITIONER’S EXHIBITS`** ``` Exhibit P-1TRUECOPYOFTHE G.O.(P).NO.12/2019/SJDDATED 31.10.2019 Exhibit P-2TRUECOPYOFTHEG.O. (MS.).NO.111/2022/GEDNDATED 25.06.2022 Exhibit P-3TRUE COPY OF THE REQUISITION WITH REGARD TO THE POST OF NEEDLE WORK TEACHER ``` - **`Exhibit P-4 TRUE COPY OF THE REQUISITION WITH REGARD TO THE POST OF HST (URUDU)`** - **`Exhibit P-5 TRUE COPY OF THE ROSTER DETAILS FOR THE RESERVATION OF DIFFERENTLY ABLED HANDS DATED 25.01.2023`** - **`Exhibit P-6 TRUE COPY OF THE NON-AVAILABLITY OF CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDATE WITH REGARD TO THE POST OF SEWING TEACHER DATED 11.09.2023`** - **`Exhibit P-7 TRUE COPY OF THE NON-AVAILABLITY CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDATE WITH REGARD TO THE POST OF HST URDU DATED 11.09.2023`** - **`Exhibit P-8 TRUE COPY OF THE ADVERTISEMENT ON DAILY NEWS PAPER, THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS DATED 25.03.2025`** - **`Exhibit P-9 TRUE COPY OF THE SELECTION MEMO BY THE PETITIONER`** ``` 2025:KER:30416 ``` **==> picture [58 x 58] intentionally omitted <==** ``` WP(C) NO.14366 of 2025 ``` ``` 8 ``` ``` Exhibit P-10 ``` ``` TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER IN CIVIL APPEAL NO.SLP NO.11373/2024 DATED 04.03.2025 ``` ``` Exhibit P-11TRUECOPYOFTHEG.O.(MS.) NO.43/2025/GEDN DATED 17.03.2025 ``` ``` Exhibit P-12 ``` ``` TRUE COPY OF THE DECISION REPORTED IN 2021 (6) KHC 59 (CENTRAL FINANCE & INVESTMENTS AND ANOTHER V. SECRETARY, KOTHAMANGNALAMMUNICIPALITYAND OTHERS) DATED 01.10.2021 ``` ``` Exhibit P-13TRUE COPY OF THE DECISION REPORTED IN 1997 KHC 114 (SOMUKUTTAN NAIR V. STATE OF KERALA) DATED 18.02.1997 ``` ``` Exhibit P-14TRUECOPYOFTHEG.O. (MS.)NO.101/2023/GEDN DATED 18.07.2023 ``` ``` Exhibit P-15 ``` ``` TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT DATED 27.03.2025 ```