High Court of KeralaDivision BenchWrit Appeals disposed; common judgment set asid...

WA No. 851 of 2022 and connected cases (K B Ashraf v State of Kerala)

Case / Petition Number:WA 851 of 2022 (connected cases: WA 860/2022, WA 908/2022, WA 1097/2022, WA 1131/2022)

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • P. B. Suresh Kumar
  • C. S. Sudha
Judgment Date
2022-11-24
Court Decision / Holding
The impugned common judgment directing the State to accommodate students and allowing closure without proper notice is set aside. The Court holds that compliance with Section 7(6) is mandatory and that notice must be given to the officer authorised by the Government (the Director of General Education). The Director (as per Rule 2(4) of Chapter I of KER) is the appropriate officer for receiving closure notices. If the notice was not given to the authorised Director, that constitutes non-compliance. The Court clarifies that Rule 6(10) of the RTCR Rules is ultra vires insofar as it requires government sanction in a manner that defeats the notice requirement. The matter is remanded for fresh notice under Section 7(6) and for possible re-organization of admissions, with W.P.(C) No. 16323/2022 being kept open for a fresh petition if desired. WA851/WA860/WA908/WA1097/WA1131 are disposed accordingly with liberty to file fresh petitions.
Final Disposition
Writ Appeals disposed; common judgment set aside to the extent it allowed closure without proper notice; fresh notice under Section 7(6) to the Director is required; liberty granted to file fresh petitions in related matters as applicable.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • K B Ashraf

Respondents

  • The State of Kerala
  • The Secretary, General Education Department, Government of Kerala
  • The Deputy Director of Education
  • The District Educational Officer
  • The Director of General Education
  • The Assistant Educational Officer
  • The Manager, Haji Essa Haji Moosa Memorial LP School

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • M. A. Asif

Counsels for Respondents

  • • K.M. Muhammed Hussain
  • • K.V. Sree Vinayakan
  • • Colin ALEX
  • • A. J. Varghese (Sr GP)
  • • B. Vinitha (Sr GP)

Case Synopsis & Summary

These writ appeals arise from petitions by the Manager of Haji Essa Haji Moosa Memorial LP School, an aided institution at Mattancherry, challenging orders rejecting a proposal to close down parts of the school and, in one case, a writ petition filed by the President of the Parent-Teacher Association seeking government take-over. The petitions were disposed of by a common judgment of the Kerala High Court on 24 November 2022. The crucial legal issue is the power and procedure for closing an aided/private school under the Kerala Education Act and Rules, particularly whether one year's notice is sufficient and whether any statutory permission is required. The Court surveys Section 7(6) of the Kerala Education Act, Rule 24 of Chapter V of the Kerala Education Rules (KER), and Rule 6(10) of the Kerala Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011, along with the RTI framework, and relevant precedents. It notes that notice must ordinarily be given to the officer authorised by the Government (the Director/Director of General Education) and that Rule 6(10) has been held ultra vires in prior decisions. The judgments cite Krishna Kumar and Subramanian to interpret the scope of notice versus permission. The Court ultimately holds that compliance with Section 7(6) is mandatory and that the notice must be given to the Director (and not merely to a higher officer), allowing a fresh notice to proceed. The decision disposes of WA851, WA860, WA908, WA1097, and WA1131 through a common order, with liberty to file fresh petitions if warranted by the action.

Provisions of Law Cited

Section 7(6) of the Kerala Education ActRule 24 of Chapter V of the Kerala Education Rules (KER)Rule 6(10) of the Kerala Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Strict compliance with statutory procedure: where a power is to be exercised in a prescribed manner, it must be exercised in that manner (Taylor v. Taylor)
  • Nazir Ahmad v. King-Emperor: principle of strict compliance with statutory prescriptions
  • Noor Mohammed v. Khurram Pasha: reinforces the same principle
  • ultra vires doctrine (Rule 6(10) ultra vires in some contexts)
  • General doctrine of compliance over informal notice when statute specifies the mode of compliance

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The applicant contends that Section 7(6) of the Kerala Education Act requires one year's notice to the officer authorised by the Government for closing a school; notice to the Director of General Education is mandatory, and notice to other officers does not satisfy the requirement. The nexus with Rule 24(1) is that one year's notice to the Director is essential; Rule 6(10) of the RTCR Act or its rules cannot compel obtaining permission, as held ultra vires in prior decisions. The counsel argues that notice to the Secretary to Government cannot be a substitute for notice to the authorised Director. It is submitted that closure cannot be completed without compliance with Section 7(6) and Rule 24(1). The absence of permission under Rule 6(10) should not defeat the statutory obligation to give notice, and the State should arrange to accommodate students under RTCR while recognizing the Manager’s right to close after proper notice.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents argue that closure of a private school requires the Director’s permission under Rule 24(1) and (2), and that Rule 6(10) of the RTCR Rules requires a recommendation from the Assistant Educational Officer and local authority and prior sanction of the Government; Without such permission, closure would violate the law and disrupt students. They contend that notice must be given to the officer authorised by the Government (the Director) and that notice to other officers or to the Secretary cannot satisfy the statutory requirement. They rely on Rule 6(10) being beyond the rule-making power and on a prior decision upholding that position, urging that the statutory process must be followed to avoid arbitrary closures.

Cited Precedents (6)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Krishna Kumar v. State of Kerala1972 KLT 496DistinguishedRule 24(2) held beyond the rule making power in Krishna Kumar; later decisions distinguish this view.
Subramanian v. State of Kerala1986 KLT 359PositiveClarified that Section 7 and Rule 24(1) do not speak of any permission; supports not requiring formal permission.
State of Kerala v. Manager, Aided Upper Primary School, Kozhikode2016(2) KHC 629Positive held Rule 6(10) ultra vires; supports that closure can proceed with compliance of Section 7(6) and Rule 24(1).
Taylor v. TaylorLR 1 Ch D 426PositiveCited to illustrate strict compliance with prescribed method of exercising power.
Nazir Ahmad v. King-EmperorAIR 1936 PC 253(1)PositiveCited for the general principle of strict compliance with statutory prescriptions.
Noor Mohammed v. Khurram Pasha2022(9) SCC 23PositiveCited to reinforce the principle of proper exercise of statutory power.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** # **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **&** **THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE C.S. SUDHA** **THURSDAY, THE 24[TH] DAY OF NOVEMBER 2022 / 3RD AGRAHAYANA,** ## **1944** ## **WA NO. 851 OF 2022** **AGAINST THE JUDGMENT DATED 02.06.2022 IN WP(C) 16323/2022** **OF HIGH COURT OF KERALA** ## **APPELLANT/PETITIONER IN THE W.P.(C):** **K B ASHRAF, AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. BAVA, PRESIDENT, PARENT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF HAJI ESSA HAJI MOOSA MEMMORIAL LP AND HIGH SCHOOL RESIDING AT MATTANCHERRY HOUSE NO. 3/971, IREVALI, KOCHI, ERNAKULAM.** **BY ADV M.A.ASIF** ## **RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS IN THE W.P.(C):** - **1 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695014.** - **2 THE SECRETARY , GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, THIURVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695014.** - **3 DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, CIVIL STATION, KAKKANAD P.O., ERNAKULAM, PIN-692030.** - **4 THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, ERNAKULAM, PIN-682011.** - **5 THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION, THE DIRECTORATE OF GENERAL EDUCATION, JAGATHY, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695014.** Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 2 - **6 THE ASSISTANT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, MATTANCHERRY, FORT KOCHI, PIN 682 001.** - **7 THE MANAGER, HAJI ESSA HAJI MOOSA MEMORIAL LP SCHOOL, MATTANCHERRY, (SCHOOL CODE-726017), KOCHI, PIN-682002.** **BY ADVS.** **K.M.MUHAMMED HUSSAIN** **K.V.SREE VINAYAKAN COLIN ALEX A.J.VARGHESE SR GP** **THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 24.11.2022, ALONG WITH WA.860/2022 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 3 ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **&** **THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE C.S. SUDHA** **THURSDAY, THE 24[TH] DAY OF NOVEMBER 2022 / 3RD AGRAHAYANA,** **1944** **WA NO. 860 OF 2022** **AGAINST THE JUDGMENT DATED 02.06.2022 IN WP(C) 8094/2022** **OF HIGH COURT OF KERALA** **APPELLANT/ADDL.6TH RESPONDENT IN THE W.P.(C):** ## **K.B.ASHRAF,** **AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. BAVA, PRESIDENT, PARENT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF HAJI ESSA HAJI MOOSA MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, RESIDING AT MATTANCHERRY HOUSE NO. 3/971, IREVALI, KOCHI, ERNAKULAM.** **BY ADV M.A.ASIF** ## **RESPONDENTS/PETITIONER/RESPONDENTS 1 TO 5 IN THE W.P.(C):** - **1 THE MANAGER HAJI ESSA HAJI MOOSA MEMORIAL SCHOOL, MATTANCHERY, (SCHOOL CODE-726017), KOCHI, PIN-682002.** - **2 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695014.** - **3 THE SECRETARY GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, THIURVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695014.** Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 4 - **4 DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION CIVIL STATION, KAKKANAD P.O., ERNAKULAM, PIN-692030.** - **5 THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, ERNAKULAM, PIN-682011.** - **6 THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION, THE DIRECTORATE OF GENERAL EDUCATION, JAGATHY, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695014.** **BY ADVS.** **K.M.MUHAMMED HUSSAIN** **K.V.SREE VINAYAKAN COLIN ALEX** **B.VINITHA SR.GP** **THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON** **24.11.2022, ALONG WITH WA.851/2022, 908/2022 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 5 ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **&** **THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE C.S. SUDHA** **THURSDAY, THE 24[TH] DAY OF NOVEMBER 2022 / 3RD AGRAHAYANA,** **1944** **WA NO. 908 OF 2022** **AGAINST THE JUDGMENT DATED 02.06.2022 IN WP(C) 8212/2022** **OF HIGH COURT OF KERALA** ## **APPELLANT/THIRD PARTY:** ## **K.B.ASHRAF,** **AGED 60 YEARS, S/O.BAVA, PRESIDENT, PARENT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF HAJI ESSA HAJI MOOSA MEMMORIAL LP SCHOOL, RESIDING AT MATTANCHERRY HOUSE NO.3/971, IREVALI, KOCHI, ERNAKULAM.** **BY ADV M.A.ASIF** ## **RESPONDENTS/PETITIONER/RESPONDENTS 1 TO 6 IN THE W.P.(C):** - **1 THE MANAGER, HAJI ESSA HAJI MOOSA MEMORIAL L.P.SCHOOL, MATTANCHERY, (SCHOOL CODE-726017), KOCHI, PIN-682002.** - **2 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,PIN-695014.** - **3 THE SECRETARY, GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,PIN-695014.** Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 6 - **4 DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, CIVIL STATION, KAKKANAD P.O., ERNAKULAM,PIN-682030.** - **5 THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, ERNAKULAM, PIN-682011.** - **6 THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION, THE DIRECTORATE OF GENERAL EDUCATION, JAGATHY, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695014.** - **7 THE ASSISTANT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, MATTANCHERRY, FORT KOCHI, PIN-682 001.** - **BY ADVS.** - **K.V.SREE VINAYAKAN** - **K.M.MUHAMMED HUSSAIN** **COLIN ALEX B.VINITHA SR.GP** **THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 24.11.2022, ALONG WITH WA.860/2022 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 7 ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **&** **THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE C.S. SUDHA** **THURSDAY, THE 24[TH] DAY OF NOVEMBER 2022 / 3RD AGRAHAYANA,** **1944** **WA NO. 1097 OF 2022** **AGAINST THE JUDGMENT DATED 02.06.2022 IN WP(C) 8212/2022** **OF HIGH COURT OF KERALA** ## **APPELLANTS/RESPONDENTS IN W.P.(C):** - **1 THE STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014** - **2 THE SECRETARY, GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014** - **3 DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, CIVIL STATION, KAKKANAD P.O., ERNAKULAM, PIN - 692030** - **4 THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682011** - **5 THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION, THE DIRECTORATE OF GENERAL EDUCATION, JAGATHY. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014** - **6 THE ASSISTANT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, MATTANCHERRY, FORT KOCHI, PIN - 682002** - **BY ADV A.J.VARGHESE SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER** Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 8 ## **RESPONDENT/PETITIONER IN W.P.(C):** **THE MANAGER, HAJI ESSA HAJI MOOSAL MEMORIAL SCHOOL, MATTANCHERY, (SCHOOL CODE 725017), KOCHI, PIN - 682002** **BY ADV K.V.SREE VINAYAKAN** **THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 24.11.2022, ALONG WITH WA.860/2022 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 9 ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR** **&** **THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE C.S. SUDHA** **THURSDAY, THE 24[TH] DAY OF NOVEMBER 2022 / 3RD AGRAHAYANA,** ## **1944** **WA NO. 1131 OF 2022** **AGAINST THE JUDGMENT DATED 02.06.2022 IN WP(C) 8094/2022** **OF HIGH COURT OF KERALA** ## **APPELLANTS/RESPONDENTS 1 TO 5 IN W.P.(C):** - **1 THE STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014** - **2 THE SECRETARY GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014** - **3 DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, CIVIL STATION, KAKKANAD P.O, ERNAKULAM - 692030** - **4 THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682011** - **5 THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION, THE DIRECTORATE OF GENERAL EDUCATION, JAGATHY, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014 BY ADV A.J.VARGHESE SR.GP** ## **RESPONDENT/PETITIONER & 6TH RESPONDENT IN W.P.(C):** - **1 THE MANAGER, HAJI ESSA HAJI MOOSAL MEMORIAL SCHOOL, MATTANCHERY, (SCHOOL CODE – 725017), . KOCHI, PIN - 682002** Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 10 - **2 K.B.ASHRAF,** **S/O. BAVA, PRESIDENT, PARAENT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF HAJI ESSA HAJI MOOSA MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, RESIDING AT MATTANCHERRY, HOUSE NO. 3/971, IREVALI, KOCHI, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682002** **BY ADVS.** **K.V.SREE VINAYAKAN** **VINOD KUMAR.C** **M.A.ASIF** **THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 24.11.2022, ALONG WITH WA.860/2022 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 11 ## **P.B.SURESH KUMAR & C.S.SUDHA, JJ.** ## **-----------------------------------------------** **Writ Appeal Nos.851, 860, 908, 1097 and 1131 of 2022 ----------------------------------------------Dated this the 24[th] day of November, 2022.** ## **JUDGMENT** ## **P.B.Suresh Kumar, J.** Among these appeals, W.A.Nos.860 of 2022 and 1131 of 2022 are preferred against the judgment in W.P.(C) No.8094 of 2022 and W.A.Nos.908 of 2022 and 1097 of 2022 are preferred against the judgment in W.P.(C) No.8212 of 2022. W.A.No.851 of 2022 is preferred against the judgment in W.P. (C) No.16323 of 2022. 2. The writ petitions from which the above appeals arise were disposed of by a common judgment and as such, the appeals are also disposed of by this common judgment. Parties and documents are referred to in this Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 12 judgment for convenience, as they appear in W.P.(C) No.8094 of 2022. 3. The petitioner in the writ petition is the Manager of Haji Essa Haji Moosa Memorial High School, an aided school (the School), having classes from standard I to X. The school is established and run by a trust namely Himayathul Islam Trust (the Trust). The writ petitions relate to the right of the Trust to close down the school. 4. The School is one established in the year 1948. It is stated by the petitioner that although about 1,000 children were pursuing studies in the School during late eighties, of late, the strength of the students came down heavily and there are only a very few students now in all the classes together. According to the petitioner, the Trust is one constituted with the object of imparting education to children and as the Trust is not able to achieve its object by running the School in this fashion, it has decided to close down the School and addressed a representation to respondents 2 to 4 seeking permission to close down the High School section of the School from the Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 13 academic year 2022-23 onwards. Ext.P1 is the representation submitted by the petitioner in this regard. A representation similar to Ext.P1 was addressed by the petitioner to respondents 2 to 4 seeking permission to close down the Lower Primary section of the School also. No orders have been passed on the said representations either by the second respondent or the fourth respondent. The third respondent, however, rejected the representations by a common order stating that there are 138 students and 23 staff in the School and since alternative arrangements cannot be made by the Government for taking care of the interests of the students and staff, the permission sought for cannot be granted. Ext.P3 is the order issued by the third respondent in this regard. Ext.P3 was under challenge in the writ petition preferred in respect of the request made by the petitioner for closure of the High School section of the School. W.P.(C) No.8212 of 2022 was one instituted by the petitioner challenging Ext.P3 order separately in respect of the claim made for closure of the Lower Primary school section of the School. Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 14 5. W.P.(C) No.16323 of 2022 was one instituted by the sixth respondent in the writ petition. The sixth respondent is the President of the Parent Teacher Association of the School. He filed the said writ petition seeking directions to the Government to consider Ext.P1 representation preferred by him and others before the Government to take over the School in public interest. 6. The writ petitions were taken up together. In the light of the provision contained in Section 7(6) of the Kerala Education Act (the Act) and Rule 24 of Chapter V of the Kerala Education Rules (the KER), and having regard to the fact that the provision contained in Rule 6(10) of the Kerala Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011, framed under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, the learned Single Judge took the view that the petitioner is entitled to close down the School and consequently allowed W.P.(C) Nos.8094 of 2022 and 8212 of 2022, set aside Ext.P3 communication and disposed of the writ petitions directing the State Government to undertake the task of Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 15 accommodating the students in the neighbouring schools. In the light of the decision in the aforesaid writ petitions, W.P.(C) No.16323 of 2022 was dismissed. The official respondents and the Parent Teacher Association of the School are aggrieved by the said decision of the learned Single Judge and hence, these appeals. 7. The learned counsel for the sixth respondent as also the learned Government Pleader submitted that in terms of the provisions contained in Section 7(6) of the Act and Rule 24 of Chapter V of the KER, it was obligatory for the petitioner to give notice of closure of the School to the fifth respondent, the Director of General Education, and in the absence of any notice to the Director of General Education as provided for in the Statute, the learned Single Judge ought not have allowed the writ petition and directed the State Government to undertake the task of accommodating the students in the neighbouring schools. In addition, the learned Government Pleader submitted, placing reliance on the provisions contained in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act and the Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 16 Rules framed by the State Government thereunder, that permission of the authorities under the said Statute is required for closure of the School. There was a specific provision in Rule 6(10) of the Kerala Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011 to the effect that no school shall be closed down without the recommendation of the concerned Assistant Educational Officer and the local authority and without the prior sanction of the State Government. But, the said Rule was held to be _ultra vires_ the Statute by a Division Bench of this Court in **State of Kerala v. Manager, Aided Upper Primary School, Kozhikode** 2016(2) KHC 629. The learned Government Pleader, referring to the various provisions contained in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act submitted that the said judgment needs reconsideration. The attempt of the learned Government Pleader was also that even if the petitioner gives notice of closure to the Director of General Education in terms of Section 7(6) of the Act and Rule 24 of Chapter V of the KER, the petitioner cannot close down the School unless the petitioner Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 17 obtains permission of the statutory authority in terms of Rule 6(10) of the Rules framed under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. 8. Per contra, the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner submitted that what is required in terms of Section 7(6) of the Act is only one year's notice expiring with the 31[st] May of any year of the intention to close down the School and the permission of the authority to whom the notice is issued, is not contemplated by the Statute to enable the Manager to close down the school. The learned Senior Counsel conceded that the competent authority to whom notice has to be given in terms of Section 7(6) of the Act is the officer authorised by the Government in this behalf and that notice has not been given to him by the petitioner. It was, however, contended by the learned Senior Counsel persuasively that since notice has been given to the Secretary to the Government, an officer superior to the officer authorised by the Government in this behalf, it cannot be contended that there is no compliance of the statutory provision. Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 18 ## 9. We have examined the arguments advanced by the learned counsel for the parties. ## 10. Section 7(6) of the Act dealing with duties and responsibilities of Managers reads thus: “No manager shall close down any school unless one year's notice, expiring with the 31[st] May of any year, of his intention so to do, has been given to the officer authorised by the Government in this behalf.” As evident from the extracted provision, it proceeds on the premise that the Manager of a school is entitled to close down the school, if notice is given to the officer authorised by the Government in this behalf in the manner indicated in the provision. Rule 24 of Chapter V of the KER reads thus: **Closure of Private Schools** :- (1) No Private school shall be closed down without giving the Director one year's notice expiring with the 31st May of any year of the intention to do so. (2) The Director may, after considering all aspects of the question, grant permission for the closure of the school and recognition of such school shall lapse. No application for withdrawal of the notice after the issue of permission shall be entertained unless adequate reasons are adduced to the satisfaction of the Director. The order of the Director in the matter shall be final. Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 19 It is evident from sub-rule (1) of Rule 24 that the Director is the officer authorised by the Government to receive notice concerning closure of the schools in terms of Section 7(6) of the Act. Sub-rule (2) of Rule 24 which empowers the Director to grant permission for closure of the school has been held by this Court to be inconsistent with Section 7(6) of the Act and beyond the rule making power of the Government, in **Krishna Kumar v. State of Kerala,** 1972 KLT 496. In **Subramanian v. State of Kerala,** 1986 KLT 359, this Court has clarified that Section 7 and Rule 24(1) do not speak of any permission from any one, and the obligation of the Manager is only to give one year's notice of his intention to close down the school. As noted, Rule 6(10) of the Kerala Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011 framed under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 contained a provision to the effect that no school shall be closed down without the recommendation of the Assistant Educational Officer and the local authority and without prior sanction of the Government. As Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 20 mentioned, in **Manager, Aided Upper Primary School, Kozhikode** , a Division Bench of this court held that Rule 6(10) aforesaid is beyond the rule making authority of the State Government and therefore _ultra vires_ the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. It was also clarified in the said case that the said provision will not be an impediment for a Manager to close down a school on satisfying the condition specified in Section 7(6) of the Act and Rule 24(1) of Chapter V of the KER. We have gone through meticulously the decision of this Court in **Manager, Aided Upper Primary School, Kozhikode** and we are in complete agreement with the proposition laid down therein. 11. The surviving question is whether compliance of the requirement under Section 7(6) of the Act is mandatory. As noted, in terms of the said provision, notice of closure is one to be given to the officer authorised by the Government in this behalf. The officer authorised in his behalf is the Director. The Director, going by the definition contained in Rule 2(4) of Chapter I of KER is the Director of Public Instruction, presently Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 21 re-designated as 'Director of General Education', or such other officer or officers who may from time to time be appointed by the Government to exercise all or any of the powers of the Director of General Education. The petitioner has no case that the third respondent is an officer authorised and empowered by the Government to receive notice of closure of schools on behalf of the Director. If that be so, notice of closure of school should have been given to the Director. In the case on hand, the notice of closure has not been given to the Director. Instead notice has been given to the third respondent, the Deputy Director of Education. As noted, the argument advanced by the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner is that notice to the Secretary to Government, an officer superior to the Director is sufficient for compliance of the requirement under Section 7(6) of the Act. The pointed question, therefore is whether notice to an officer superior to the officer who is authorised by the Government in this behalf is sufficient compliance of the requirement under Section 7(6) of the Act. 12. It is now trite that where a power is given to do Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 22 a certain thing in a certain way, the thing must be done in that way or not at all and that other methods of performance are necessarily forbidden [See **Taylor v. Taylor** (1875) LR 1 Ch D 426, **Nazir Ahmad v. King-Emperor,** AIR 1936 PC 253(1) and **Noor Mohammed v. Khurram Pasha,** 2022(9) SCC 23]. The principle behind the rule is that if this were not so, the statutory provision might as well not have been enacted at all. In the case on hand, going by the provision contained in Section 7(6) of the Act, the Manager is empowered to close down the school after giving notice in the manner indicated in the provision to the officer authorised by the Government in this behalf. Since the dispute pertains to the exercise of power by the Manager, we are of the view that the Manager should have given the notice of closure to the officer authorised by the Government in this behalf and not to anyone else, for if it is held that notice of closure can be given to a person not authorised by the Government, the same will have the effect of defeating not only the statutory provision, but also the object and purpose behind it. Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 23 In the light of discussion aforesaid, according to us, the impugned common judgment in W.P.(C) Nos.8094 of 2022 and 8212 of 2022 is liable to be set aside and we do so. It is, however, made clear that this judgment will not preclude the petitioner from closing down the school after giving a fresh notice in terms of the requirement under Section 7(6) of the Act. Insofar as W.P.(C) No.16323 of 2022 was dismissed in the light of the decision in the remaining writ petitions, the petitioner therein is granted liberty to file a fresh writ petition on the same cause of action, if so advised. Sd/- ## **P.B.SURESH KUMAR, JUDGE.** Sd/- ## **C.S.SUDHA, JUDGE.** YKB Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 24 ## **APPENDIX OF WA 851/2022** ## **PETITIONER ANNEXURES** **ANNEXURE I TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION FILED BY THE 7TH RESPONDENT ON 01-03-2021 BEFORE THE 3RD RESPONDENT. ANNEXURE II TRUE COPY OF ORDER OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT DATED 18-08-2021.** **ANNEXURE III TRUE COPY OF THE AFFIDAVIT FILED BY THE 7TH RESPONDENT ON 31-05-2022 IN W.P. (C).NO.8094/2022. ANNEXURE IV TRUE COPY OF THE LIST OF STUDENTS ADMITTED IN THE SCHOOL IN LP CLASSES FROM 01.03.2021 TO 01.06.2022.** **ANNEXURE V TRUE COPY OF THE LIST OF STUDENTS ADMITTED IN HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES FROM 01.03.2021 TO 07.06.2022.** Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 25 ## **APPENDIX OF WA 860/2022** ## **PETITIONER ANNEXURES** ## **ANNEXURE I** ## **ANNEXURE II** ## **ANNEXURE III** ## **ANNEXURE IV** **TRUE COPY OF THE LIST OF 74 STUDENTS ADMITTED IN THE PETITIONER SCHOOL IN HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES FROM 27.05.2021 TO 10.06.2022** **TRUE COPY OF THE G.O(M.S) NO.83/2018/G.EDN. DATED 12.06.2018. TRUE COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT APPROVAL ORDER NO.D/1564/2018/DDIS DATED 20.10.2018 IN RESPECT OF TEHSEEN YOUSEFF APPOINTED AS L.P.S.A** **TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.B5-15325/19 DATED 04.12.2019 IN RESPECT ELIZABETH SIMNA CORIA APPOINTED AS OFFICE ATTENDANT.** **ANNEXURE V TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.B5-15324/19 DATED 06.12.2019 IN RESPECT OF MOHAMMED NIZAR K.Y APPOINTED AS F.T.M.** **ANNEXURE VI** **TRUE COPY OF THE WP(C)NO.18418/2021 FILED BY THE PETITIONER.** Writ Appeal No. 851 of 2022 and con. cases 26 ## **APPENDIX OF WA 908/2022** ## **PETITIONER ANNEXURES** **ANNEXURE I TRUE COPY OF THE AFFIDAVIT FILED ON 01.06.2022 BY THE PETITIONER ON 31.05.2022 IN W.P.(C) NO.8094/2022 ALONG WITH EXT.P7 ANNEXURE II TRUE COPY OF THE LIST OF 41 STUDENTS ADMITTED IN THE PETITIONER SHCOOL IN LP CLASSES FROM 24.05.2021 TO 07.06.2022**