"Appears That Teachers Are Not Being Appointed On Merit": Kerala High Court Seeks Streamlined Method Of Appointment In Govt-Aided Schools

Justice D. K. Singh observed that it appears that the Manager of the school has absolute discretion to appoint anyone who is qualified as a teacher without following any process.

“As of today, it appears that the Manager has absolute discretion to appoint anybody who is qualified as a teacher at the school without following any selection process or advertising the posts…. Prima facie it appears that there is a big nexus between the Managements and the Educational Authorities for giving appointments to the teachers in the schools, which are not on merit but for considerations other than merit.”

The Court directed the DGE to file the affidavit within 7 days for the purpose of streamlining a fair selection process. The Court added that if the affidavit is not filed within the next posting date, the DGE will have to personally appear before the Court. The Court has specifically directed to mention the nature of the Selection Committee constituted, and if the Manager has absolute power to constitute the Committee or whether the Government has any say in it. The Court has also directed the Principal Secretary of General Education to file an affidavit on these issues.

The case is next posted to 20^th June.

Case Title: Sowmya M. V. and Others v State of Kerala and Others

Case No: WP(C) 21487 of 2025