The State Of Tamil Nadu v. St. Stephens High School

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 29.04.2016

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.MANIKUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.S.SUNDAR W.A.(MD)No.853 of 2016 and C.M.P.(MD).No.5140 of 2016

1. The State of Tamil Nadu, represented by its Secretary, Department of School Education, Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009.

2. The Director of School Education, College Road, Chennai 600 006.

3. The Chief Educational Officer, Kanyakumari District, Nagercoil.

4. The District Educational Officer, Kuzhithurai, Kanyakumari District.

...Appellants Vs.

St. Stephens High School, represented by its Manager, South Palavilai, Kollemcode 629 160, Kanyakumari District.

...Respondent

PRAYER: Writ Appeal is filed under Clause XV of Letter Patent against the interim order passed by Hon'ble Justice Mr.D.Hariparanthaman, dated 18.12.2015 in M.P.(MD).No.2 of 2015 in W.P.(MD).No.22955 of 2015.

Prayer in MP(MD). 2/ 2015 in WP(MD).22955/2015 : To grant an order of AD INTERIM ORDERS directing the 4th respondent herein to grant temporary approval to the appointment of S.Sheela as B.T.Assistant (Science) in the petitioner school from 20.6.2011 onwards with salary and other attendant benefits pending disposal of the Writ petition.

Prayer in WP(MD). 22955/ 2015 :

Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court To issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned proceedings issued by the 4th respondent herein in Na.Ka.No.3764/A4/2013 dated 27.09.2013 quash the same, and further Direct the 4th respondent herein to approve the appointment of S.Sheela as B.T.Assistant (Science) in the petitioner school from 20.6.2011 onwards with salary and other attendant benefits. For Appellants : Mr.VR.Shanmuganathan Special Government Pleader For Respondent : Mr.EVN. Siva

JUDGMENT

(Judgment of this Court was delivered by S.MANIKUMAR,J.) In the present writ appeal, the challenge made is to the order passed by the writ Court, directing the fourth appellant to grant temporary approval and pay salary to S.Sheela, who is working as B.T.Assistant (Science) in the respondent's school.

2. Learned counsel appearing for the parties in the appeal, have consented that, they are agreeable that the order passed in W.A.(MD) No.220/2016 dated 05.02.2016, be passed in the present appeal also, details of which are given below. Thus, by consent, the present appeal is taken up and disposed of.

3. On an earlier occasion, a similar Writ Appeal (MD)No.220 of 2016, filed by the State, has been considered and disposed of on 05.02.2016 by a Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court, to which, one of us (SMKJ) is a party.

4.

Mr.EVN. Siva, learned counsel appearing for the respondent/petitioner has consented for a similar order to be passed.

5. Inasmuch as the learned counsel for the first respondent/writ petitioner has consented for a similar order as made in W.A.(MD) No.220 of 2016, dated 05.02.2016, this Court deem it fit to extract the same and dispose of the Writ Appeal on the same lines:

"4.In a similar writ appeal filed by the State in the Principal Bench, a Division Bench of this Court has passed the following order in W.A.No.1299 of 2015, dated 14.09.2015.

'4.Be that as it may, the issue as to whether the provisions of the Act, will be applicable to a minority institution, is pending consideration in Aswinithanappan Vs. Director of Education and another - (2014) 8 SCC 272. 5.In view of the above, without going into the merits of the case as to whether a teacher appointed in a minority school is required to have TET qualification, as the same is the subject matter of the Writ petition, we are of the considered view that interest justice would subserve, if the appointment of the first respondent is protected, without giving any direction to the State Government to grant temporary approval.

6.Mr.D.Krishnakumar, learned Special Government Pleader (Education) appearing for the appellants fairly submits that the first respondent shall not be terminated during the pendency of the said writ petition being W.P.No.14072 of 2015.

7.Accordingly, we direct that the first respondent shall be given her salary in the course of her employment and no steps to remove her from service shall be taken till the disposal of the writ petition. However, it is made clear that this order is subject to the final outcome of the pending writ petition. It is further made clear that the first respondent shall not claim any equity on account of this order, without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the parties, therein.

8.This intra-Court appeal is disposed of accordingly. No costs. Connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. "

6. By consent, Writ Appeal is disposed of on the same lines as ordered in W.A.(MD)No.220 of 2016 dated 05.02.2016. Having consented, fourth appellant is directed to comply with the orders. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar (Record) /True Copy/ Sub Assistant Registrar

To

1. The Secretary, The State of Tamilnadu, Department of School Education, Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009.

2. The Director of School Education, College Road, Chennai 600 006.

3. The Chief Educational Officer, Kanyakumari District, Nagercoil.

4. The District Educational Officer, Kuzhithurai, Kanyakumari District.

+1cc M/s.E.V.N.Siva, Advocate SR.No.25850 W.A.(MD)No.853 of 2016 29.04.2016 akv SD/SS-3/29.08.2016/4P/6C