If the management and the staff of an educational institution are at loggerheads, the stream of education can get polluted to a frustrating level.
This observation was made by Justice V. Ramasubramanian of Madras High Court while allowing a petition by Sir M. Ct. Muthiah Chettiar Boys Higher Secondary School in Purasawalkam.
The petition challenged orders of the district educational officer, Chennai North, on February 29, 2012, and the chief educational officer in June last year for direct disbursement of the grant-in-aid to the school staff, bypassing the management.
Since 2011, trouble had brewed in the institution, with the management and staff facing off. The management contended the conditions for ordering direct disbursement were not satisfied, and the order had been passed in violation of principles of natural justice. The management also said disputes between it and the staff with regard to enforcing discipline could not be ground for ordering direct disbursement.
Justice Ramasubramanian said that as per the Tamil Nadu Recognised Private Schools (Regulation) Act, disbursement of the grant to the school secretary was the rule, and direct disbursement to teachers was an exception. The school was not afforded an opportunity, the Judge said, and quashed the impugned orders.
