OMKAR SINGH vs. THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH

Case Type: Civil Appeal

Date of Judgment: 16-07-2019

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1 REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO.5564 OF 2019       (Arising from SLP (C) NO.16698/2018) OMKAR SINGH & ORS.                          Appellants VERSUS STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH & ORS.               Respondents WITH CIVIL APPEAL NO.5569  OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.21286/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5566 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.18904/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5570 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.21287/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5568 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.20530/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5565 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.18903/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5571 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.21288/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5572 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.21289/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5567 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.18905/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5573 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.21291/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5574 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.21292/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5575 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.21295/2018) Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by ASHA SUNDRIYAL Date: 2019.07.29 17:45:20 IST Reason: CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5576 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.21297/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5577 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.21298/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5583 OF 2019 2 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.23805/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5582 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.23804/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5586 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.24184/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5579 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.23168/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5578 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.22532/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5584 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.23968/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5585 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.24176/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5580 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.23545/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5588 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.25476/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5587 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.24500/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5581 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.23724/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5590 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.16580/2019 @ Diary No. 35576/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5589 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.30148/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5591 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.16581/2019 @ Diary No. 35666/2018) CIVIL APPEAL NO.5592 OF 2019 (Arising from SLP (C) NO.16582/2019 @ Diary No. 42111/2018) O R D E R Leave granted. Applications for impleadment are allowed to the extent of intervention. 2. All   these   appeals   have   been   preferred   against   the   impugned common judgment and final order of the Division Bench of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad on 30.05.2018 in Special Appeal NO.506/2018 deciding the bunch of the matters. 3 3. The singular question involved is whether the incumbents who were pursuing any of the Teachers Training Course (for short ‘TTC’) (recognized by the National Council for Teachers Education (for short ‘NCTE’) or the Rehabilitation Council of India (for short ‘RCI’) as the case may be) could have appeared in the Teachers Eligibility Test (for short ‘TET’) prescribed by the NCTE?  4. The basic education is defined under Section 2(1)(b) of the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Act, 1972 (for short "Act of 1972") to mean education up to class VIII imparted in schools other than high schools or intermediate colleges.   Section 19 of the Act of 1972 provides for rulemaking power of the State Government and envisages that the State Government by notification may make rules for carrying out purposes of the Act.   The Uttar Pradesh Basic Education (Teachers) Service Rules, 1981 have been framed in exercise of the powers under Section 19 of the Act of 1972.  Rule 8 of the 1981 Rules provides for essential qualification of the candidates for appointment to the post of Assistant Master of  Senior  Basic School and  Assistant  Mistress of Senior Basic School for teaching Science and Mathematics and require a candidate to have Bachelor Degree with Science and Mathematics and training   qualification of   B.T.C.,   C.T.,  B.Ed.  and   B.Ed.  Special Education   or   a   course   recognized   by   RCI   and   passed   Teacher Eligibility Test conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Government or the 4 Government of India. 4.1. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (in  short ‘Act  of  2009') was  enacted  w.e.f.  16.02.2010.    The Central Government   in  exercise   of   power   under  sub­Section  (1) of Section   23   of   the   Act   of   2009   vide   notification   dated   31.3.2010 authorized   the   NCTE   as   an   academic   authority   to   lay   down   the minimum qualification for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher.   The   Constitution   (Eighty­Sixth   Amendment)   Act,   2002 inserting Article 21A relating to the Right to Education was given effect from 01.04.2010. Article 21A postulates that the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all the children of age from 6 to 14 years in such manner as the State may determine.   The NCTE, the academic authority, laid down minimum qualification for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in class I to class VIII.  The dispute in this matter is confined to the appointment of Assistant Teacher in Class VI to VIII. 4.2   The   NCTE   vide   notification   dated   23.08.2010   laid   down   the qualifications for minimum qualifications for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in class I to VII as under:  “1. Minimum Qualifications:­ (I) Classes I­V (a) Senior Secondary (or it's equivalent) with at least 50 % marks   and   a   2­year   diploma   in   Elementary   Education   (by whatever name known) 5 or  Senior Secondary (or it's equivalent) with at least 45% marks and 2­year Diploma in Elementary Education (by whatever name   known),   in   accordance   with   the   NCTE   (Recognition Norms and Procedure), Regulations 2002. or  Senior Secondary (or it's equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 4 year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.) or Senior Secondary (or it's equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 2­year Diploma in Education (Special Education) AND (b) Pass in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), to be conducted by   the   appropriate   Government   in   accordance   with   the guideline framed by the NCTE for the purpose. (ii) Classes VI­VIII (a) B.A./B.Sc and 2­year Diploma in Elementary Education (by whatever name known)  or  B.A./B.Sc. With at least 50% marks and 1 year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.) or  B.A/B.Sc. With at least 45% marks and 1 year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.), in accordance with the NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations issued from time to time in this regard. Or  Senior Secondary (or it's equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 4 year Bachelor in Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.) or  Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 4 year BA/B.Sc./B.Sc.Ed. Or B.A.Ed./B.Sc.Ed. Or  B.A./B.Sc. With at least 50% marks and 1­year B.Ed.(Special Education) AND (b) Pass in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) to be conducted by   the   appropriate   Government   in   accordance   with   the guidelines framed by the NCTE for the purpose.” 5. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 has been further amended by inserting a second proviso under 6 Section 23 on 01.04.2015 as under: “Provided further that every teacher appointed or in position st as on the 31   March 2015, who does not possess minimum qualifications   as   laid   down   under   sub­section   (1),   shall acquire such minimum qualifications within a period of four years from the date of commencement of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2017.” 5.1 As one of the eligibility criteria for appointment as a teacher as per the notification issued by the NCTE dated 23.8.2010 is passed in the TET to be conducted by the appropriate government in accordance with the guidelines framed by the NCTE for conducting the TET, it has been mentioned that it is necessary to ensure that persons recruited as teachers possess the essential aptitude and ability to meet the challenges of teaching at the primary and upper primary level. 5.2 As per the guidelines framed by NCTE for conducting the TET, the rationale for including the TET as a minimum qualification for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher is given in the Guidelines for conducting Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) are extracted hereunder: “3   The   rationale   for   including   the   TET   as   a   minimum qualification for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher is as under: “i.   It   would   bring   national   standards   and   benchmark   of teacher quality in the recruitment process; ii. It would induce teacher education institutions and students from these institutions to further improve their performance standards; iii. It would send a positive signal to all stakeholders that the Government lays special emphasis on teacher quality." 7 5.3 The eligibility for the TET examination has been provided in para 5 of the Guideline as under: “Eligibility 5 The following persons shall be eligible for appearing in the TET: i) A   person   who   has   acquired   the   academic   and professional qualifications specified in the NCTE Notification rd dated 23  August 2010;         ii     A person who is pursuing any of the teacher education courses (recognized by the NCTE or the RCI, as the case may rd   be) specified in the NCTE Notification dated 23      August 2010; iii.   The   eligibility   condition   for   appearing   in   TET   may   be relaxed   in   respect   of   a   State/UT   which   has   been   granted relaxation under sub­section (2) of section 23 of the RTE Act. The relaxation will be specified in the notification issued by the Central Government under that sub­section." (emphasis supplied) 5.4 It is apparent that the condition No.(i) of para 5 is that a person who   has   acquired   academic   and   professional   qualifications   as   per notification dated 23.8.2010 can appear in the TET examination. As per para 5 (ii), a person who is “ pursuing ” any of the teacher education courses recognized by NCTE or the RCI, as specified in Notification dated 23.08.2010 shall be eligible for appearing in the TET. As per para 5(iii), the eligibility condition for appearing in TET may be relaxed in   respect   of   State/UT   which   has   been   granted   relaxation   under Section 23 (2) of the RTE Act of 2009.  The relaxation will be specified in the notification issued by the Central Government. 8 6. In the State of U.P., a Government Order dated 7.9.2011 had been   issued   for   conducting   TET   which   provided   that   a   candidate having B.A, B.Sc, B.Com. and TTC passed are eligible to appear in the TET and subsequently, the State of U.P. issued another Government Order dated 17.9.2011 in the modification of the earlier Government Order dated 7.9.2011, whereby the eligibility guidelines came to be amended in pursuance of the NCTE notification dated 29.7.2011 and in   place   of   B.A.,   B.Sc.,   B.Com.   the   words   "Graduate"   came   to   be substituted.     Thereafter,   the   aforesaid   Government   Orders   dated 7.9.2011   and   17.9.2011   came   to   be   amended   vide   G.O.   dated 4.10.2011 and for that examination, such candidates were authorized to appear who have passed TTC recognized by the NCTE or who were appearing   in   the   last   year   examination   of   TTC.     The   last   date   of submission   of   the   applications   for   UPTET   was   18.10.2011.     The UPTET examination was held on 13.11.2011.  On 25.11.2011 UPTET examination result was declared.   At this stage, it is required to be noted that similarly CTET examination was conducted by the Central Government   authorizing   such   candidates   to   appear   who   were pursuing   the   TTC   but   have   not   passed   the   TTC   examination. Thereafter   on   17.4.2013,   the   government   order   was   issued   for conducting   UPTET   examination   2013   and   the   consequential   office orders were issued. 9 7. The   learned   Single   Judge   in   Writ   Petition   No.   3100   of   2013 (Vinod Kumar Singh and others vs. State of UP and others) passed an order   dated   13.3.2013   allowing,   as   an   interim   measure,   the candidates   pursuing   the   TTC   to   appear   in   the   TET   examination making the result subject to further orders of the Court. Thereafter, the   Government   Order   dated   17.4.2013   came   to   be   issued   for conducting UPTET examination 2013 and consequential office orders were issued.  Then a bunch of writ petitions came to be filed before the High Court by such candidates who were pursuing TTC or appearing in the last year examination of TTC with a prayer that they are being deprived  to   appear   in  the   TET   on  the   ground   that  they   have  not passed TTC.   7.1 The High Court disposed of the aforesaid bunch of writ petitions directing  the  State  Government to take notice of  the  guidelines of NCTE for eligibility and issue appropriate instructions or government order in the event it is found that the writ petitioners are also entitled to appear in the examination.   In compliance of the aforesaid order passed by the High Court dated 13.5.2013, a Government Order dated 15.05.2013 came to be issued by the State Government modifying the Government Order dated 17.4.2013 and the office orders providing therein that such candidates may also be entitled to appear in the TET 10 examination who are appearing in TTC examination. It also provided that such candidates will be allowed provisionally to appear in the TET examination with a condition that TET examination passed certificate will   be   valid   only   after   passing   the   TTC   examination.   The   UPTET examination was held on 27/28.6.2013 and the result of the UPTET 2013 was declared on 13.11.2013. At this stage, it is required to be noted that the respective appellants – original respondents before the High Court are the candidates who have passed UPTET examination, however,   at   the   relevant   time   when   they   appeared   in   the   TET examination, all of them were pursuing their TTC course. It appears that thereafter a  Government Order dated 11.7.2013  was issued for filling up 14667 posts of Assistant Teachers of Science and 14667 posts of Assistant Teachers of Maths, total 29334 posts of Assistant Teacher of Senior Basic Schools (Class VI to VIII).   The Government Order further provided eligibility educational qualification as B.Sc. and TTC   recognized   by   the   NCTE   and   TET   passed.     The   academic qualification   was   modified   in   place   of   B.Sc.   and   it   was   made graduation with a subject of Science or Maths, as the case may be.  As against   the   aforesaid   vacancies,   the   candidates   who   have   passed UPTET   examination   2011,   CTET   examination   2012,   UPTET examination 2013 and CTET examination 2013 were eligible to apply. The   last   date   for   submission   of   the   applications   was   30.09.2013, 11 which was further extended to 10.10.2013.  All the appellants applied pursuant to the aforesaid advertisement.  All of them were appointed and all of them are working as Assistant Teachers in the respective subjects since 2015.    7.2 After   a   period   of   two   years   –   in   the   year   2017,   a   bunch   of petitions   came   to   be   filed   before   the   High   Court   challenging   the appointments/appointment process initiated by the State Government by   G.O.   dated   11.7.2013.     Twofold   submissions/grievances   were made, firstly, that the appointments have been offered to persons who are ineligible in terms of the qualifications specified, inasmuch as they do not have Science or Mathematics as one of the subjects in the Graduation Degree, and secondly, the persons who had not passed an examination   or   were   not   in   the   final   year   of   their   TTC   had   also appeared in the TET examination, which was impermissible, and that, such persons have also been appointed.  The learned Single Bench of the High Court disposed of the aforesaid petitions vide judgment and order dated 8.5.2018.  The learned Single Judge observed and held as under: th “In view of the notification issued by the NCTE dated 11  of February, 2011, as well as the Government Order issued on th 15  of May, 2013, the inescapable conclusion culled out from the provision is that only those persons are eligible to appear in   the   TET   examination   who   have   acquired   academic   and professional  qualification  and  have either   obtained training qualification  or   are  pursuing   any   of  the  teacher   education courses. 12 In view of the interpretation given to the word “pursuing” by this Court, which stands implemented vide Government Order th dated 15   of May, 2013, it is clear that only those persons, who are in the final year of their teacher training courses, alone, would be entitled to appear in the TET examination. The appointing authority, therefore, is directed to ensure that before appointment letters are issued to the candidate, he/she must have passed TET after completing a training course or such   persons   were   in   the   final   year   of   their   training examination.    A person, who does not come in either of the two categories, would not be issued any appointment order. The State Government shall implement its Government Order th of 15   of May, 2013 and circulars would be issued for its strict   compliance   by   the   appointing   authorities.       The appointing authorities shall also clearly state such fact in the appointment   letter   issued   to   the   candidates   appointed   as Assistant Teachers. This takes the Court to the last limb of petitioners' grievance, regarding   those   who   have   been   appointed   as   Assistant Teachers, even while they had not even completed the first year of their teacher training course.  By way of illustration, some of the petitioners have annexed materials to show that appointment orders have been issued to persons who have passed   TET   even   before   completing   the   first   year   of   their training   course.       Such   appointment   orders   would   be inconsistent with the Government Orders, already issued by th the State Government, dated 15   of May, 2013 as well as th NCTE circular dated 11  of February, 2011. Liberty, therefore, is reserved to the petitioners to challenge such specific appointments before the appointing authorities, i.e., the District Basic Education Officer concerned, at the first instance, who shall examine such individual grievances on facts after affording the opportunity of hearing to the selected candidates.   The   process,   in   that   regard,   would   be   concluded   within   a period of six months from the date of raising such grievance, along with a certified copy of this order, before the appointing authority."    7.3 The judgment and  order passed by the  learned  Single Bench dated 8.5.2018 was the subject matter of appeals before the Division Bench of the High Court.   By the impugned common judgment and 13 order, the Division Bench has opined differently as under: th “A   perusal   of   Clause   5(ii)   of   the   notification   dated   11 February 2011 issued by the NCTE indicates that a person who is pursuing any of the teachers' training courses specified rd in the NCTE Noti23.8.2010 dated 23  August 2010 would also be eligible.  It appears to us that this benefit was considered to be given to such candidates whose teacher training course result had not been declared by the last date specified for filling the online form for TET examination.  That is why such persons who were pursuing the teacher training course could appear at the TET examination.  In our opinion "pursuing any of the teacher training course" should   not   be   restricted   only   to   such   persons   who   were appearing in the examination of the teacher training course. It should also include such persons who have studying in the course   but   examination   had   not   been   held.     But   what   is important is that such persons should have been declared successful in the teachers training course before the date on which  the  examination  result  of TET  is  declared.     If such interpretation is not given then even if a candidate does not pass the teachers' training course, the TET Certificate would be   issued   to   him   and   this   would   enable   him   to   seek appointment as an Assistant Teacher even though he has not passed   the   qualifying   examination.     This   clause   merely facilitates such person to appear at the TET examination even if   the   result   of   the   teacher   training   course   has   not   been declared.  This interpretation would subserve the purpose for which such persons were considered eligible.   To give any other interpretation would defeat the purpose of the facility that has been provided to such persons. In support of this interpretation, it would be appropriate to refer to the schedule that was placed before the Court for the 2011 examination.  The last date for applying was 18 October 2011.  The examination was held on 13 November 2011 and the result was declared on 25 November 2011.   The case of the appellants is that persons whose result of the teacher training course has not been declared by 25 November 2011 were   issued   certificates   and   based   on   the   certificates   they were appointed.  According to them the result of the teacher training course was declared in March 2012." 7.4 The   impugned   common   judgment   and   order   passed   by   the Division Bench of the High Court is the subject matter of the present 14 appeals. 8. We have   heard  the   learned   Senior   Counsel for   the  respective parties at length. 8.1 The issue involved in the present appeals is the meaning and interpretation of the word "pursuing" as appearing in Clause 5(ii) of the NCTE guidelines.  The question for consideration is the eligibility criteria to appear in the TET examination.   It is apparent from the reading   of   the   guidelines   framed   by   the   NCTE   –   para   5   that   the incumbents who have acquired the qualification academic as well as professional can apply for TET examination.  The second category of candidates   who   can   apply   for   TET   examination   is   those   who   are "pursuing"   any   teacher   training   course   (TTC).     The   meaning   of "pursuing" is a person who is undergoing any of the teacher training course (TTC).   He/she must have been admitted and pursuing the teacher   training   course   which   is   prescribed   as   a   qualification. Declaration of the result, appearing in the examination or date of filling up of the forms, etc. cannot be the criteria to appear in the TET examination.     Therefore,   a   candidate   who   is   undergoing   i.e., “pursuing” the requisite teacher training course (TTC) shall be eligible to appear in the TET examination. 8.2. The learned Single Judge of the High Court held and concluded 15 that "only  those   persons   who  are   in  the   final   year   of   the   teacher training course (TTC) alone would be entitled to appear in the TET examination". The Division Bench of the High Court has gone further and has observed that "only such candidates, whose teacher training course result has not been declared by the last date specified for filling up the online form for TET examination can be said to be “pursuing" the teacher training course as mentioned in clause 5(ii) of the NCTE guidelines   and   could   appear   in   the   TET   examination.   Therefore, according to the Division Bench of the High Court, as on the last date specified   for   filling   up   the   online   form   for   TET   examination,   the candidates must have appeared in the examination (of TTC) and the result has not been declared.   These riders are not proper given the clear   language   used   in   clause   5(ii)   of   the   NCTE   guidelines.     The Division   Bench   of   the   High   Court   has   read   into   and/or   added something more than what is provided in clause 5(ii) of the NCTE guidelines.  The language used in clause 5 (ii) of the NCTE guidelines is simple, clear and unambiguous.  As per the cardinal principle of the rule   of   interpretation,   while   construing   a   particular   provision,   the particular provision is required to be read as it is and nothing is to be added or taken away.   8.3 Looking   to   the   clear   wordings   in   clause   5(ii)   of   the   NCTE guidelines and the phrase used is “pursuing”, the High Court is not 16 justified   in   adding   the   additional   riders,   such   as,   that   to   become eligible for appearing in the TET examination, a candidate must have appeared   in   the   TTC   examination   and   the   result   have   not   been declared by the last date specified for filling up the online form for TET examination.   As   per   the   dictionary   meaning,   the   word   "pursuing" means undergoing and/or proceeding further. Therefore, a candidate who has been admitted in any of the TTC and undergoing the teacher training   course   (TTC)   can   be   said   to   be   "pursuing"   such   teacher training course and shall be eligible to appear in the TET examination, irrespective of the fact that whether, by the last date specified for filling   up   the   online   form   for   TET   examination,   he   has,   in   fact, appeared in the examination of the concerned teacher training course and the result is awaited.   “Pursuing” the requisite teacher training course is sufficient to make such a candidate eligible to appear in the TET examination.   Therefore, on a fair reading of clause 5(ii) of the NCTE guidelines, a person who has been admitted in TTC and is pursuing, he/she can appear in the TET examination.  In the present case, admittedly, on the cut­off date, all the candidates were pursuing the concerned teacher training course. Thereafter, all of them have cleared the TET examination as well as have cleared the concerned teacher training course.   At the time when they were appointed as Assistant   Teachers,   all   of   them   fulfilled   the   eligibility   criteria   for 17 appointment as Assistant Teachers. All of them have passed the TET examination   and   have   also   passed   the   TTC   as   per   the   requisite eligibility criteria.  Thus, in our view, ousting certain incumbents by the High Court cannot be sustained since they were pursuing TTC and they were clearly eligible to appear in the TET examination and have passed it while pursuing the requisite professional qualification for being eligible to be appointed as Assistant Teachers. 8.4 It is not permissible to add riders as done by the High Court. The phrase "pursuing" is to be given literal meaning. The expression ‘rule of literal construction’  lays  down that  words of  a statute  are first understood in their natural, ordinary or popular sense and phrases, and sentences are construed according to their grammatical meaning. The learned author G.P. Singh in  ‘Principles of Statutory Interpretation’ th (14  end.) at p. 91, has observed: “… Natural and grammatical meaning.—The words of a statute are first understood in their natural, ordinary or popular sense and phrases and sentences are construed according to their grammatical meaning, unless that leads to some absurdity or unless there is something in the context, or in the object of the statute to suggest the contrary. “The true way”, according to Lord Brougham [ Crawford v. Spooner , 1846 SCC Online PC 7] is, ‘to take the words as the legislature have given them, and to take the meaning which the words given naturally imply, unless where the construction of those words is, either by the Preamble or by   the   context   of   the   words   in   question,   controlled   or   altered;: [ Crawford case  (supra)] and in the words of Viscount Haldane [ Attorney General v. Milne , 1914 AC 765 (HL)],L.C. if the language used “has a natural meaning we cannot depart from that meaning unless reading the statute as a 18 whole, the context directs us to do so. In an oft­quoted passage, Lord Wensleydale stated [ Grey v. Pearson , (1857) 6 HL Cas 61] the rule thus: ‘… in construing wills and indeed statutes, and all written instruments, the grammatical and ordinary sense of the words is to be adhered to, unless that would lead to some absurdity, or some repugnance or inconsistency with the rest of the instrument, in which case the grammatical and ordinary sense of the words may be modified, so as to avoid that absurdity, and inconsistency, but no further.’”        Therefore, it is clear that the respective appellants herein whose appointments   were   challenged   were   eligible   to   appear   in   the   TET examination  at the  time  they were  “pursuing” the  concerned  TTC. Thus, we hold that the decision of the High Court, to the aforesaid extent, is not sustainable.  The impugned orders of the High Court are accordingly modified to the aforesaid extent. 9. Now so far as the submission on behalf of some of the appellants herein – original writ petitioners with regard to persons who have passed  Graduation   without   Science   or   Mathematics   as   one   of   the subjects is concerned, the concerned District Education Officers are directed to carry out the exercise to find out such candidates who are Graduate   and   have   been   appointed   as   Assistant   Teachers   without having Science or Mathematics as one of the subjects, within a period of   three   months   from   today.     Let   the   exercise   be   completed   duly considering the second proviso to Section 23 added by the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2017. 19 10. The present appeals are allowed accordingly.  No costs. ……………………………...J.                                                      [ARUN MISHRA] ……………………………...J.                                                            [S. ABDUL NAZEER] ……………………………...J.                                                [M.R. SHAH] NEW DELHI; JULY 16, 2019. 20 ITEM NO.6 COURT NO.4 SECTION III-A S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 16698/2018 OMKAR SINGH & ORS. Appellant(s) VERSUS STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH & ORS. Respondent(s) IA No. 5660/2019 - AMENDMENT OF APPEAL / PETITION / I.A. IA No. 90579/2018 - DELETING THE NAME OF PETITIONER/RESPONDENT IA No. 90576/2018 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 171991/2018 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. IA No. 114377/2018 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. 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SLP [C] No.30148/2018 (III-A) IA No. 164243/2018 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT IA No. 164241/2018 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.) 24 DIARY No.35666/2018 (III-A) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.53818/2019-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT and IA No.53816/2019-PERMISSION TO FILE PETITION (SLP/TP/WP/..) and IA No.53817/2019-CONDONATION OF DELAY IN REFILING) DIARY No.42111/2018(III-A) IA No. 164477/2018 - CONDONATION OF DELAY IN FILING IA No. 164483/2018 - DELETING THE NAME OF PETITIONER/RESPONDENT IA No. 164479/2018 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT IA No. 164480/2018 - PERMISSION TO FILE SYNOPSIS AND LIST OF DATES) Date : 16-07-2019 These matters were called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN MISHRA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S. ABDUL NAZEER HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.R. SHAH Counsel for the parties:- Mr. R. Venkataramani, Sr. Adv. Mr. Dinesh Dwivedi, Sr. Adv. Mr. V. Shekhar, Sr. Adv. Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Mr. Kumar Gaurav, Adv. Mr. Robin Khokhar, Adv. Mr. R. Venkataramani, Sr. Adv. Mr. Robin Khokhar, Adv. Mr. Yash Raj Bundela, Adv. Mr. Praveen Vignesh, Adv. Mr. R. Venkataramani, Sr. Adv. Mr. Robin Khokhar, Adv. Mr. Sandeep Kumar Dwivedi, Adv. Mr. Nidhesh Gupta, Sr. Adv. Ms. Japneet Kaur, Adv. Ms. Vriti Gujral, Adv. Ms. Pallavi Singh, Adv. Mr. Anzu. K. Varkey, AOR Mr. Nidesh Gupta, Sr. Adv. Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Mrs. Neeraj Singh, Adv. Ms. Harshita Raghuvanshi, Adv. Mr. K. Ramesh, Adv. Anzu K. Varkey, Adv. Mr. Rupender Singh Suri, Sr. Adv. Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Mr. Aditya Giri, Adv. Mr. Vikas Singh, Adv. Mr. Rameshwar Prasad Goyal, Adv. 25 Mr. Rakesh K. Khanna, Sr. Adv. Ms. Roopali Chaturvedi, Adv. Mr. Sandeep Kumar Dwivedi, Adv. Mr. Shyam Divan, Sr. Adv. Mr. Prashant Shukla, Adv. Mr. Suyash Srivastava, Adv. Ms. Nikita Capoor, Adv. Ms. Shreya Mishra, Adv. Mr. Ravindra Sadanand Chingale, AOR Mrs. V. Mohana, Sr. Adv. Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Mrs. Neeraj Singh, Adv. Mr. Kumar Gaurav, Adv. Ms. Ritu Reniwal, Adv. Mr. Rohit Singh, AOR Mr. P.V. Surendranath, Sr. Adv. Ms. Resmitha R. Chandran, Adv. Ms. Lekha Sudhakaran, Adv. Mrs. Kiran Suri, Sr. Adv. Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Mr. Ved Prakash, Adv. Mr. Sanjay Rastogi, Adv. Mr. Pallav Shishodia, Sr. Adv. Mr. Sandeep Kumar Dwivedi, Adv. Ms. Roopali Chaturvedi, Adv. Mr. Pallav Shishodia, Sr. Adv. Mr. Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi, Adv. Dr. Vinod Kr. Tewari, Adv. Mr. Ajay K. Mishra,Sr. Adv. Mr. Rajesh K. Singh, Adv. Mr. Krishnanand Pandeya, AOR Ms. Pooja, Adv. Mr. Ravi S. Jha, Adv. Mr. Kedar Nath Tripathy, AOR Mr. Mukesh Verma, Adv. Mr. Sanjeet Paliwal, Adv. Mr. Sibo Sankar Mishra, Adv. Mr. Niranjan Sahu, Adv. Mr. Raj Singh Rana, AOR Ms. Parul Shukla, AOR Mr. Gaurav Yadava, Adv. Mr. Virendra Kasana, adv. 26 Mr. Vijay Pratap Yadav, Adv. Mr. Karunakar Mahalik, AOR Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Mrs. Neeraj Singh, Adv. Ms. Ritu Reniwal, Adv. Mr. Rameshwar Prasad Goyal, AOR Ms. Preetika Dwivedi, AOR Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Ms. Ritu Reniwal, Adv. Mr. Prithvi Raj Singh, Adv. Ms. Sheetal Rajput, Adv. Mr. Robin Khokhar, AOR Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Mrs. Neeraj Singh, Adv. Mr. Kumar Gaurav, Adv. Ms. Ritu Reniwal, Adv. Mr. Robin Khokhar, Adv. Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Mr. Sushil Kumar, Adv. Mr. Rajeev Kumar Gupta, Adv. Mrs. Prachi Bhatnagar, Adv. Mr. Balraj Dewan, AOR Mr. Mrigank Prabhakar, AOR Mr. Devvrat, AOR Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Ms. Priyanka Das, Adv. Mr. Tom Joseph, Adv. Mr. U.C. Mohanty, Adv. Mr. Binay Kumar Das, AOR Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Mr. P. Dayal, Adv. Mrs. Neeraj Singh, Adv. Mr. Rajesh Sharma, Adv. Ms. Shalu Sharma, AOR Mr. Anand Nandan, Adv. Ms. Shalu Sharma, Adv. Ms. Parul Shukla, Adv. Mr. Rajesh Srivastava, Adv. Mr. Abbula Kalam, Adv. Mr. Abdul Qadir, Adv. Mr. Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi, Adv. 27 Mr. Vaibhav Manu Srivastava, Adv. Mr. Manoj K. Mishra, AOR Ms. Roopali Chaturvedi, AOR Mr. Rakesh Uttamchandra Upadhyay, AOR Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Mrs. Neeraj Singh, Adv. Mr. Shafiq Khan, Adv. Ms. Nidhi Singh Dubey, Adv. Mr. Sanjay Rastogi, AOR Mr. Dhruv Gautam, Adv. Mr. Devashish Chauhan, Adv. Ms. Pallavi Mishra, Adv. Ms. Neha Agarwal, Adv. Ms. Charu Ambwani, AOR Mr. Nishesh Sharma, AOR Mr. Durga Dutt, AOR Mr. Rohit Priyadarshi, Adv. Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Mrs. Neeraj Singh, Adv. Mr. Rahul Kumar Tripathi, Adv. Ms. Ritu Reniwal, Adv. Mr. Parminder Singh Bhullar, AOR Mr. Vivek Singh, AOR Mr. Swastik Dalai, Adv. Dr. Vinod Kumar Tewari, AOR Mr. R.K. Singh, Adv. Mrs. Neeraj Singh, Adv. Mr. Kumar Gaurav, Adv. Ms. Ritu Reniwal, Adv. Mr. A. Lakshminarayanan, AOR Ms. Manju Jetley, AOR Mr. Amit Pawan, AOR Ms. Garima Prashad, AOR Mr. Satyajeet Kumar, AOR Ms. Parul Shukla, AOR Mr. Rakesh Mishra, AOR Mr. Bimlesh Kumar Singh, AOR Mr. Rajeev K. Gupta, Adv. Mr. Ashutosh Bhardwaj, Adv. Mr. Rajesh Srivastava, AOR Ms. Charu Ambwani, AOR 28 Mr. Puskar Sharma, Adv. Mr. Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi, AOR Mr. Susheel Tomar, Adv. Mr. Sanjeev Malhotra, AOR Mr. Raj Kishor Choudhary, AOR Mr. Vaibhav Manu Srivastava, AOR Ms. Kamakshi S. Mehlwal, AOR Mr. Nishit Agrawal, AOR Mr. Harsh Mishra, Adv. Mr. Udayaditya Banerjee, AOR Ms. Khushboo Vinodray Malkan, AOR Mr. Alok Singh, Adv. Mr. Narayan R. Panicker, Adv. Dr. Amarendra P. Yadav, Adv. Mr. Abhishek Singh, Adv. Ms. Manju Sharma Jaitley, Adv. UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R Application(s) for permission to file Special Leave Petition(s) is/are allowed. Delay condoned. Leave granted. Applications for impleadment are allowed to the extent of intervention. Applications for intervention are allowed. The Appeals are allowed in terms of the singed reportable order. Pending application(s) stand(s) disposed of. (ASHA SUNDRIYAL) (JAGDISH CHANDER) COURT MASTER BRANCH OFFICER [Signed reportable order is placed on the file]