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1990 DIGILAW 937 (ALL)

Sukhnandan v. District Inspector of Schools, Meerut

1990-10-16

B.L.YADAV

body1990
JUDGMENT B L. Yadav, J 1. By present petition under Article 226 of the Constitution prayer is that the respondents may be directed not to interfere in the working of the petitioner as an Assistant Teacher in L.T. Grade in Shri Salig Ram Sharma Smarak Inter College Rasna, Meerut and to pay his regular salary including the arrears of his salary with effect from 11-12-1989. 2. The factual matrix of the case is that in the vacancy caused on the retirement of Mange Ram, Permanent lecturer in Hindi, one Kanhaiya Lal Nautiyal, Permanent Assistant Teacher in L. T. Gride was promoted, with the result one vacancy of Assistant Teacher in L. T. Grade occurred in the Institution. In that vacancy, Committee of Management appointed the petitioner as an Assistant Teacher in L T. Grade on ad hoc basis, in view of the provisions of U. P. Secondary Education Removal of Difficulties Order 1881 (for short Order 1981). Thereafter complete papers pertaining to the appointment of petitioner were sent to the District Inspector of Schools which were received in his office on 26-12-1989, but the District Inspector of Schools did not communicate his decision till date, hence this petition has been filed. Inspife of time being granted by this Court, no counter affidavit has been filed by the respondents, learned counsel for the parties agreed that this petition may be disposed of on merits. 3. Learned counsel (or the petitioner urged that the provisions of paragraph 2 (2) (iii) of Order, 1981, are mandatory in nature, which is obvious by the use of word 'shall' accordingly after expiry of 7 days from the date of receipt of papers, there is a deeming clause to the effect that in case no decision of D.I.O.S. is communicated, it shall be deemed that the approval has been accorded. 4. Learned Standing Counsel supported the impugned order. The provisions of paragraph 2 (2) (iii) of Order 1981 are set out : "The District Inspector of Schools shall communicate his decision within seven days of the date of particulars by him failing which the Inspector will be deemed to have given his approval." The aforesaid provision makes it evident that the legislature was conscious in using the word 'shall' which ordinarily means must or imperative. But sometime the context may require that the word 'shall' can indicate permissive or a directory sense. But sometime the context may require that the word 'shall' can indicate permissive or a directory sense. What is decisive is the consequence or non compliance. Any way no universal rule can be indicated to ascertain the meaning as to whether legislature intended a particular provision to be directory or mandatory. In each case one has to look to the subject matter, to the importance of the provision and the consequence to disregard it. In the present case the consequence has been provided. In case the District Inspector of School does not communicate his decision, it shall be presumed that he has accorded his approval. The word 'shall' here means 'must' or imperative. The legislative intendment was that the District Inspector of School must convey his decision, within seven days. 5. The expression the 'Inspector shall be deemed to have given his approval' has been designedly used by the legislature. It is well known that a deeming clause creates a legal fiction. The effect is that an effect which would not otherwise be obtained is obtained under the circumstances. In fact in reality that effect may not be obtained but the provision requires it to be done. In the present case incase the Inspector did not convey his decision, even though he might have decided not to grant approval, but Legislature indicates that it shall be assumed that the approval has been accorded. The legislature has used the language of a compulsive force and it has to be interpreted In that sense. Shjarif-ud-Din v. Abdul Gani Lone, AIR 1980 SC 303 , I. T. Delhi v. Tej Singh, AIR 1959 SC 352 . 6. In view of the aforesaid provision having the mandatory force, as no decision was communicated within seven days, it shall be assumed as if the District Inspector of Schools has accorded approval. In view of the premises aforesaid the writ petition succeeds and is allowed. The respondents are directed not to interfere in the functions of the petitioner as Asstt. Teacher in L.T. Grade on ad hoc basis, and to pay salary to the petitioner regularly till duly selected candidate takes over. Arrears of salary shall also be paid to the petitioner since 11th December, 1989 by 30-11-1990. There shall be no order as to costs. Petition allowed.