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2013 DIGILAW 3085 (MAD)

A. Lovely Rani v. Government of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Secretary, Chennai

2013-08-29

C.S.KARNAN

body2013
Judgment : 1. The brief facts of the case are as follows:– The petitioner submits that she has passed B.A(Economics) in April 1982 and B.Ed., in April 1988 from Madurai Kamaraj University and she had registered her name in the Employment Exchange. She was appointed as a teacher in KJ Mcilroy English Nursery and Primary School, Neyyoor (Un Aided) from 1992 to 1997 and further she was appointed as a Secondary Grade Teacher from 01.08.1997 in the fifth respondent's Management school and posted in LMS Higher Secondary School, Mathicode. The petitioner's appointment is made only in the transfer and promotion vacancy in the said Christian Religious Minority School and as such, no list from the Employment Exchange need be obtained, but the appointment of the petitioner was not approved from the date of appointment and she has not been paid as on date. 2. The salary of the petitioner was not paid due to issue of G.O.Ms.No.394, Education, dated 12.09.1997 and the fifth respondent challenged the said G.O, by filing a writ petition and the same has been dismissed. Subsequently, a writ appeal was filed and an interim stay of termination was obtained. The Division Bench, by order dated 29.06.2001, partly allowed the writ petition and directed to approve the appointment made upto 19.05.1998, the date on which, the writ petitions were dismissed by the learned single judge. The first respondent issued a G.O.Ms.No.155, School Education (D2) Department, dated 03.10.2002, in which the Government ordered that B.Ed., qualified candidates appointed upto 19.05.1998 in regularly sanctioned posts can be approved and they have to undergo one month training in Child Psychology in the concerned District Institute of Education and Training. The Government further ordered that they have been given relaxation for not having the required qualifications fixed in annexure (VI) (iii) under Rule 15 (6) of the Tamil Nadu Recognized Private Schools Regulation Rule, 1974. In the said Government Order, it is further stated that the salary will be paid to the said teachers after their completion of one month training through DIET. It is further stated in the G.O. that in so far as the teachers appointed in the non-minority schools are concerned, they should have been appointed following the Rule of reservation and through Employment Exchange. It is further stated in the G.O. that in so far as the teachers appointed in the non-minority schools are concerned, they should have been appointed following the Rule of reservation and through Employment Exchange. It is further ordered in the said G.O., that the salary paid to such of those teachers shall be stopped immediately and steps would be taken to recover the salary already paid. Hence, the petitioner is constrained to challenge the said G.O. in the writ petition. 3. The petitioner further submits that the order of the first respondent issued in G.O.Ms.No.559, dated 11.07.1995 and 394 dated 12.09.1997 were challenged in a batch of cases. During the pendency of the writ petition, this Court granted stay of the operation of the G.O. and several Managements including the Management in which the petitioner is working appointed B.Ed., teachers in secondary grade vacancies including that of the petitioner herein and the respondents approved and paid salary. On 19.05.1998, the said writ petitions were dismissed by the learned single judge as against which writ appeals were filed in a batch of cases. The Division Bench of this Court, by order dated 29.06.2001, held that while upholding the Government Order as valid, the teachers appointed upto date of dismissal of the writ petition on 19.05.1998 are to be given an approval and an undertaking to that effect was given by the learned Additional Advocate General that the graduate teachers who are inducted prior to the disposal of the writ petition shall be saved and a direction can be given to that effect, they should undergo training on the same lines as it was done in the past. The undertaking was recorded by this Court and this Court directed the Government to grant practical training. The first respondent, even though giving an undertaking before this Court and which was recorded in the order dated 29.06.2001, failed to take any decision in this respect and only after the contempt notice was issued and the matter was moved, the first respondent has chosen to issue Government Order dated 03.10.2002 in which the said conditions are imposed. 4. It is further submitted that it is specifically stated in the G.O. that relaxation is granted to the teachers appointed prior and upto 19.05.1998 and therefore, they are directed to go for one month training in Child Psychology through DIET. 4. It is further submitted that it is specifically stated in the G.O. that relaxation is granted to the teachers appointed prior and upto 19.05.1998 and therefore, they are directed to go for one month training in Child Psychology through DIET. The petitioner is willing to go for one month training. The qualification has been relaxed in favour of the petitioner pursuant to the directions of Division Bench of this Court which was accepted by the Government through the Additional Advocate General and as such, the first respondent has no jurisdiction to state that the salary of the petitioner will be paid only from the date of passing the one month training course. Similarly the direction to stop payment to the teachers who are already receiving salary is clearly unauthorized. The further direction to take steps to recover the salary already paid is also totally erroneous and without jurisdiction. Hence, the Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.155, School Education (D2) Department, dated 03.10.2002 is challenged before this Court by way of this writ petition. 5. The fourth respondent, viz, the District Educational Officer, Kanyakumari District has filed a counter affidavit on behalf of the respondents 1, 2 and 3 and on his behalf also. The respondent stated that their office is not aware about the appointment of the petitioner in an unaided Primary School during the years from 1992 to 1997. The petitioner is a Graduate having a B.A., B.Ed., qualification and she does not possess Secondary Grade Training / Diploma in Teachers Education. The petitioner was appointed as a Secondary Grade Teacher with effect from 01.08.1997. The post, in which the petitioner was appointed, was rendered surplus during the Staff Fixation for the year 2001-2002 and hence, the post was resumed by the Department. Now, there is no post available in the school. Secondary Grade Teacher Training / Diploma in Teachers Education is very essential to handle the teaching classes in Primary and Middle Schools (Standard I to VIII), as there is no psychology training available in the B.Ed., course. 6. The respondents further submit that the Government have banned the appointment of the qualified (with only B.Ed.,) person in Secondary Grade Vacancies with effect from 11.07.1995 vide G.O.Ms.No.559, Education, dated 11.07.1995. 6. The respondents further submit that the Government have banned the appointment of the qualified (with only B.Ed.,) person in Secondary Grade Vacancies with effect from 11.07.1995 vide G.O.Ms.No.559, Education, dated 11.07.1995. Even after the Managements appointed qualified (only with B.Ed.,) persons in the Secondary Grade Posts and as per the above G.O., the approval of these appointments, were denied by the Department. The aggrieved Managements and the Teachers have approached this Court. The Government issued G.O.Ms.No.155, Secondary Education (D2) Department, dated 03.10.2002, in which the B.Ed., qualified candidates appointed upto 19.05.1998 have to undergo one month training in Child Psychology in the concerned DIET. They have to be given relaxation for not having the required qualifications prescribed in the Tamil Nadu Recognized Private School Regulation Rule 1974 and these salaries are to be paid after completion of one month Child Psychology Training through DIET. 7. The respondent further submits that the persons appointed with B.Ed., qualifications and without Secondary Grade Teacher Training / Diploma Teachers Education in Secondary Grade Teacher Posts are not at all suitable to handle classes from standard I onwards. Hence, the Government ordered that the said teachers have to undergo one month Child Psychology Training as it was found to be very essential and only after the completion of such one month training, their appointment can be approved. The petitioner in this case is not willing to undergo the above mentioned training. In these circumstances, the appointment of the petitioner cannot be approved. Candidates for sanctioned posts have to undergo one month training in Child Psychology in the concerned DIET and then approved by giving relaxation for not having the required qualifications as fixed by the Tamil Nadu Recognized Private Schools Regulation Rules, 1974 and the salary would be paid to these teachers only after their completion of the training in Child Psychology. The training in Child Psychology is very essential to teach the children studying in Standard I to VIII. The persons appointed by the Management are possessing only B.Ed., qualifications, who are not at all suitable to teach the small children from 1st standard onwards. Hence, without possessing one month Child Psychology training as ordered in G.O.Ms.No.155, Education, dated 03.10.2002, their appointment cannot be approved. 8. The persons appointed by the Management are possessing only B.Ed., qualifications, who are not at all suitable to teach the small children from 1st standard onwards. Hence, without possessing one month Child Psychology training as ordered in G.O.Ms.No.155, Education, dated 03.10.2002, their appointment cannot be approved. 8. The highly competent counsel for the petitioner argued that the petitioner has possessed B.A., B.Ed., educational qualification, and that the degrees were obtained from the Madurai Kamaraj University. She has been appointed as a teacher in K.J. Mcilroy English Nursery and Primary School, Neyyoor, unaided school, wherein she had been working from 1992 to 1997. Subsequently, she has been appointed as Secondary Grade Teacher from 01.08.1997 in the fifth respondent's Management school. The petitioner's appointment at the present station is made only in the transfer and promotional vacancy in the said 5th respondent's institution, which is a minority educational institution. The petitioner's appointment was not approved from the date of appointment and she was not paid salary as of date. The first respondent issued a G.O.Ms.No.155, School Education, dated 03.10.2002, in which, the Government ordered that B.Ed., qualified candidates appointed upto 19.05.1998 in regular sanctioned posts can be approved and they have to undergo one month training in Child Psychology in the concerned District Institute of Education and Training. The Government further ordered that they had been given relaxation for not having the required qualification fixed in annexure (VI) (iii) under Rule 15(6) of the Tamil Nadu Recognized Private Schools Regulation Rule 1974. In the said Government order, it is further stated that the salary will be paid to the said teachers after their completion of one month training through DIET. The learned counsel further submits that the Government Order in so far as the teachers appointed in the non-minority schools are concerned, they should have been appointed following the rule of reservation and through Employment Exchange. It is further ordered in the said G.O. that the salary paid to such of those teachers shall be stopped immediately, and steps are to be taken to recover the salary already paid. The G.O. has been passed by the Government which is prejudicial to the staff already working. It is further ordered in the said G.O. that the salary paid to such of those teachers shall be stopped immediately, and steps are to be taken to recover the salary already paid. The G.O. has been passed by the Government which is prejudicial to the staff already working. The G.O. is causing injustice to the teaching staff already working in the concerned cadre since the order of payment of salary to staff and recovery of the salary which had been paid to the employee is against the fundamental and personal rights of the teaching staff. Therefore, the G.O is not sustainable under law. 9. The very competent counsel further contended that the petitioner is working from 01.08.1997 in a sanctioned post and the very same respondents paid salary to similarly placed teachers appointed upto 10.07.1995 and also several teachers of SC/ST category from the date of appointment, by G.O.Ms.No.113, even before completing their training. The denial of salary to the petitioner for the period served by her is violating Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution. The petitioner is working in the sanctioned post and as such, she should be paid salary. The non-payment of salary from 01.08.1997 as per G.O., is an arbitrary one. Hence, the learned counsel entreats the Court to quash the G.O.Ms.No.155, School Education (D2) Department, dated 03.10.2002. 10. The very competent Additional Government Pleader for the respondents 1 to 4 vehemently argued that the respondents are not aware about the appointment of the petitioner in an unaided primary school during the years 1992 to 1997. The petitioner is a B.A., B.Ed., qualified person and she does not possess the Secondary Grade Training / Diploma in Teachers Education. The petitioner was appointed as a Secondary Grade Teacher with effect from 01.08.1997. The post in which, the petitioner was appointed was rendered surplus during the staff fixation for the year 2001-2002 and hence, the post was resumed by the Department. Now, no posts are available in the school. The learned counsel further submitted that the Government have banned the appointment of the B.Ed. qualified persons in Secondary Grade Vacancies with effect from 11.07.1995, as per G.O.Ms.No.559, Education, dated 11.07.1995. Even after the Managements having appointed the qualified B.Ed., persons in the Secondary Grade Posts as per the G.O., the approval of these appointments were denied by the Department. The learned counsel further submitted that the Government have banned the appointment of the B.Ed. qualified persons in Secondary Grade Vacancies with effect from 11.07.1995, as per G.O.Ms.No.559, Education, dated 11.07.1995. Even after the Managements having appointed the qualified B.Ed., persons in the Secondary Grade Posts as per the G.O., the approval of these appointments were denied by the Department. The highly competent counsel further submits that the petitioner has been appointed without a Secondary Grade Teacher Training / Diploma Teachers Education in Secondary Grade Teacher posts and is not at all suitable to handle classes from Standard I onwards. Therefore, without possessing the one month Child Psychology Training as ordered in G.O.Ms.No.155, School Education (D2) Department, dated 03.10.2002, their appointment cannot be approved. Hence, the highly competent counsel entreats the Court to dismiss the writ petition. 11. The very competent counsel for the fifth respondent argued that the petitioner has possessed B.A., B.Ed. qualifications, hence she is competent enough to pursue her avocation as a teacher in the teaching profession and therefore, she has been appointed as a teacher from the year 1992-1997. Subsequently, she has been appointed as a Secondary Grade Teacher from 01.08.1997 in the fifth respondent Management's education institution. Her service was to be reckoned from 1992 upto date. She has been appointed in the sanctioned post as a Secondary Grade Teacher. The fifth respondent's education institution is a Christian Religious Minority School and therefore, for mode of appointment, list of candidates need not be called from the Employment Exchange since the Management has power to appoint any qualified person from their institution. Further, the petitioner has rendered teaching service from the year 1992 upto date without any stigma and her services as a teacher is very valued by the fifth respondent's educational institution. 12. Per contra, the learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is willing to undergo the Child Psychology Training in the concerned DIET, which is the additional prayer in the above writ petition. However, the respondents have stated in their counter that the petitioner is not willing to undergo the said training, which is incorrect and as such, this Court should not consider the above contention of the respondent and give suitable direction to the respondents 1 to 4 to allow the writ petitioner herein to undergo one month Child Psychology Training. 13. However, the respondents have stated in their counter that the petitioner is not willing to undergo the said training, which is incorrect and as such, this Court should not consider the above contention of the respondent and give suitable direction to the respondents 1 to 4 to allow the writ petitioner herein to undergo one month Child Psychology Training. 13. On verifying the facts and circumstances of the case and arguments advanced by the learned counsels on all sides and on perusing the Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.155, School Education (D2) Department, dated 03.10.2002, this Court finds that the prayer of the petitioner is reasonable and has requisite force. The Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.155, School Education (D2) Department, dated 03.10.2002 is fit to be operated upon since it has the potential for improving the educational standards across the State and also being appropriate in the instant case, I find no lapse whatsoever. Hence, the above writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents 1 to 4 to permit the petitioner to undergo one month training in Child Psychology in the Kanyakumari District Institute of Education and Training and this order is to be executed within a period of three months from the date of receipt of this order. Further, the emoluments are to be paid within the same period as specified, subject to her being appointed in the sanctioned post, which has to be determined by the Management / fifth respondent and the writ petitioner jointly with relevant records before the concerned respondents. 14. In the result, the above writ petition is disposed of with the above observations. Accordingly ordered. Connected miscellaneous petition is closed. There is no order as to costs.