- (1.) Leave granted.
(2.) Valsala Kumari Devi M., High School Assistant, B.A.R. High School, Bovikanan, Muliyar Post, Kasargode District, Kerala, who lost her case before the High Court of Kerala has filed the above appeal.
(3.) The brief facts, in nutshell, are as follows: According to the appellant, she was originally working as High School Assistant (hereinafter referred to as 'HSA') (Social Studies) in the B.A.R. Higher Secondary School, Bovikanan. She was appointed as HSA (Social Studies) with effect from 13.07.1990 which was duly approved by the Manager, B.A.R. High School, Bovikanan (respondent No.4 herein). Respondent No.5 herein, namely, M.K. Aravindakshan Nambiar, entered into service as HSA (Social Studies) (Kannada Medium) with effect from 20.06.1991. He is junior to the appellant in the category of HSA. The appellant passed M.A. (History) in second class from the University of Mysore. M.A. (History) degree of the Mysore University has been recognized as equivalent to the M.A. (History) degree of University of Calicut. A certificate to that effect has also been issued by the Registrar, University of Calicut certifying that M.A. (History) Degree of the Mysore University is recognized as equivalent to M.A. (History) Degree of the University of Calicut. She has been awarded B.A. degree by the University of Calicut having been duly certified to have passed in Economics main and Political Science, Indian History as subsidiaries in the year 1980. She has also been awarded the degree of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) in English and History subjects by the Karnataka University in recognition of the fulfillment of the requirements for the said degree and according to her, she passed the examination in April, 1981 in First Class. B.Ed. degree of the University of Karnataka has been recognized as equivalent to the B.Ed. degree of the University of Calicut and a certificate to that effect has been issued to the appellant by the Registrar of the University of Calicut. She has also passed the Master of Arts (English) degree examination held in December, 2002 from the Annamalai University and she was placed in Second Class. She has also passed the State Eligibility Test (SET) in History subject in June, 2000 and the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations has certified that the appellant has passed the SET prescribed as one of the qualifications for appointment as Higher Secondary School Teacher, in short HSST.;