Removed KVS Principal’s Appeal Over Alleged 197 Excess Admissions Must Be Decided Within 2 Months, CAT Directs

The applicant, a former Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya, was proceeded against under Rule 14 of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965 on two charges: making admissions beyond the approved strength and permitting a third party to use part of the school premises for coaching.

The Inquiry Officer found the second charge unproved and did not conclusively determine individual responsibility for the first; nevertheless, the Disciplinary Authority imposed the penalty of removal from service on 6 July 2026.

The applicant filed a statutory appeal under Rule 27 on 22 July 2026, raising, among other grounds, alleged procedural irregularities. As the appeal remained undecided, he applied to the Tribunal for a direction requiring the Appellate Authority to dispose of it by a reasoned order.

Rule 27 of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965 provides the statutory basis for the applicant’s appeal against the penalty.

The Tribunal directed the Appellate Authority to determine that appeal “in accordance with law” by a reasoned and speaking order within a fixed period.

Because the statutory appeal against the removal order was pending, the Tribunal considered it appropriate to require the competent Appellate Authority to decide it rather than examine the disciplinary merits at the admission stage.

It directed a reasoned and speaking determination within two months of receipt of its order, while expressly leaving the merits open.

The order was without prejudice to either side; the merits were not considered, pending miscellaneous applications were disposed of, and no order as to costs was made.