IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN FRIDAY, THE 11TH APRIL 2008 / 22ND CHAITHRA 1930 WP(C).No. 12783 of 2008(V) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ MANJU JOSE MATTAM, NON-VOCATIONAL TEACHER (COMMERCE), GOVERNMENT VOCATIONAL HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL, AMBALAMUGHAL, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.M.BALAGOVINDAN SRI.T.K.ANANDA PADMANABHAN SRI.M.R.SASITH RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DIRECTOR, DIRECTORATE OF VOCATIONAL HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE PRINCIPAL, G.V.H.S.S. AMBALAMUGAL, ERNAKULAM. BY GOVT. PLEADER SRI. A.J. VARGHESE. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 11/04/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S. Siri Jagan, J. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= W. P (C) No. 12783 of 2008 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dated this, the 11th April, 2008. J U D G M E N T The petitioner is a non-vocational Teacher (Commerce) in Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, Ambalamugal, Ernakulam. Her grievance in this writ petition is that the 3rd respondent is not passing orders on her maternity leave application in spite of the fact that the 2nd respondent has made it clear that the Principal is the competent person to sanction maternity leave. The petitioner therefore seeks the following relief: “a) Issue a writ of mandamus or other appropriate writ, direction or order directing the 3rd respondent to pass appropriate order granting maternity leave to the petitioner on the basis of Ext. P1 as directed by the 2nd respondent evidenced by Exhibit-P4 within a time limit fixed by this Hon'ble Court.” 2. I have heard the learned Government Pleader also. 3. In so far as the 2nd respondent has made it clear that the Principal is the competent authority, the 3rd respondent-Principal has a duty to pass orders on her leave application expeditiously. Accordingly, I direct the 3rd respondent to pass orders on the maternity leave application submitted by the petitioner within one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. The writ petition is disposed of as above. The petitioner shall forward a certified copy of this judgment along with a copy of the writ petition to the 3rd respondent for compliance. Sd/- S. Siri Jagan, Judge. Tds/ [True copy] P.S to Judge.