The Kerala High Court has directed the Travancore Devaswom Board to appoint principals in the colleges run by it, according to seniority-cum-fitness criteria provided in the Kerala University Act and the Mahatma Gandhi University Act.
A Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice P R Ramachandra Menon issued the directive while dismissing an appeal filed by H Unnithan, Reader in Physics, DB College, Sasthamkotta, against a single judge’s order quashing the appointment of principals in colleges at Sasthamkotta, Parumala and Thalayolaparambu.
The Board had appointed principals by conducting a selection after preparing a rank list of teachers working in the colleges.
The petitioner alleged that the constitution of selection committee was illegal. It could be formed only for appointment of a principal by direct appointment.
He pointed out that the principals should be appointed according to the terms of the Kerala and Mahatma Gandhi University Acts. The selection committee had not taken into consideration the seniority of teachers.
The university act mandates that appointment of principals should be done by promotion on the basis of seniority-cum-fitness, the court held.
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