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1973 DIGILAW 188 (KER)

P. SANKARA PILLAI v. DEO, KOTTAYAM

1973-07-25

GEORGE VADAKKEL, P.GOVINDA NAIR

body1973
Judgment :- 1. The question is from what date the appellant a High School teacher is entitled to have confirmation in the post of a High School Assistant to which he was appointed temporarily on 17-8-59. At the time of his appointment be did not have the requisite qualification of B. Ed. But he was appointed because of the orders Exs. P1 and P2. He acquired the B. Ed. qualification on 31-5-61. His appointment as High School Assistant was confirmed with effect from 31-5-61 by the District Educational officer. The Director of Public Instruction however by Ext. P6 order, directed that the confirmation should be with effect from 31-5-62. Two reasons have been stated in the order Ext. P6 for this change. (1) The petitioner having acquired the B. Ed. qualification which is necessary for the post of a High School Assistant only on 31-5-61, he could have function as a qualified High School Assistant only from that date. (2) He should be on probation for a period of one year from that date. The confirmation it was therefore held could be only with effect from 31-5-62. 2. The argument before the learned Single Judge and before us turned on the question whether an Assistant of a middle school appointed as High School Assistant should undergo any probation at all and whether such appointment was an'initial appointment' or was a'promotion'. Reference was made to R.3 of Chapter XXV-A, and R.4 (before it was deleted) and R.43 of the Kerala Education Rules, 1959. We do not think that these are important aspects in the case at all. Assuming that a Middle School Assistant appointed as a High School Assistant must also undergo probation and assuming that the probation can commence only from the date on which he acquired the necessary qualification the date from which his appointment has to be confirmed must depend on the terms of rule of 41 of Chapter XIV-A. That rule is in these terms: "41. A teacher who has or is deemed to have completed his probation satisfactorily may be confirmed in any permanent vacancy that may exist or arise in the grade with effect from the date of commencement of continuous service or the date of occurrence of the vacancy whichever is later." 3. A teacher who has or is deemed to have completed his probation satisfactorily may be confirmed in any permanent vacancy that may exist or arise in the grade with effect from the date of commencement of continuous service or the date of occurrence of the vacancy whichever is later." 3. Applying this rule the date of completion of probation is of no importance in deciding the date from which a person has to be confirmed. That date must either be the date from the person had continuous service or the date on which the permanent vacancy occurred. 4. It is contended by the appellant that the appellant bad not only continuous service much earlier to 31-5-61 (actually he had service it is said from 17-3-59) but there were permanent vacancies available before 31-5-61. It was therefore urged that the confirmation date of 31-5-61 given to the appellant by the District Educational Officer is the correct date of confirmation. 5. Applying R.41 the confirmation must be from the date of commencement of continuous service or the date of occurrence of the permanent vacancy, whichever is later. This can be only decided by the Educational Authorities. The reasons given in Ext. P6 cannot standi We allow this appeal and set aside the judgment dismissing the original petition and direct the District Educational Officer the first respondent is this, writ appeal and the original petition to fix the date of confirmation in accordance with R.41 in Chapter XIV-A of the Kerala Education Rules and in the light of what is stated in this judgment. The appellant will have his costs in this appeal as well as in the original petition including counsel's fee which we fix at Rs. 150/-.