PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa is hearing a petition challenging the non-appointment of a full-time headmaster at a school since August 2019 with fresh allegations surfacing about a minister’s wife appointed as acting headmistress without a DPC meeting.
Senior teacher at Sarvodaya Education Society’s High School, Veena Kakodkar has made serious allegations that Shubha Faldesai, wife of Minister Subhash Faldesai, is holding the position despite being ineligible.
While the Court is yet to decide on the complainant teacher’s petition, Kakodkar, in a recent communication to the Department of Education and the Chairman of the Society, stated that the headmaster’s post is vacant since August 2019.
According to the letter dated June 28, no Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) has been convened, leaving the senior most teacher Kakodkar’s consideration for the post unresolved.
“Eknath Naik, who was the acting headmaster at this High School, resigned on May 31, 2024. During the interim, Shubha Subhash Faldesai has been appointed and is functioning as the acting headmistress, signing documents and addressing the school’s teachers and students in that capacity," reads an extract of the letter.
Kakodkar further revealed that Shubha was appointed as a physical education teacher and does not meet the qualifications required under Rule 78 of the School Education Rules. Moreover, in the teachers’ seniority list, Shubha ranks 16 positions below Kakodkar.
The Goan contacted the department and the school management, both of whom confirmed that the matter was sub judice. Commenting on the charges involving Shubha, a senior education official maintained that she is merely an in-charge, a common practice in many schools in the absence of a full-time headmaster/headmistress.
“Teacher Kakodkar has already petitioned the High Court and the matter is sub judice. Regarding the seniority, Shubha is only an in-charge. She has not been given any official approval to act as acting headmistress. This practice is prevalent in several schools,” the official said.
When asked about the pending DPC, he stated that the committee met some time ago and the sealed envelope containing its recommendation was already submitted to the High Court. It is reliably learnt that the High Court has completed the hearing on the petition, and an order is expected to be pronounced shortly.
