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Judgment
Hon'Ble Siddharth Nandan, J.
Personal affidavit filed by learned Standing Counsel on behalf of respondent no. 1 is taken on record.
This Court has passed a detailed order on 07.10.2026 calling upon an affidavit from respondent no. 1 on the issues identified therein. For ready reference relevant extract of the order dated 07.10.2026 is reproduced below:-
"3.For ready reference Clause 9 is reproduced below:-
"9. प्रबन्ध सिमित का कायर्काल
पदािधकारी एवं सिमित सदस्यों का कायर्काल तीन वषर् का होगा। कायर् अविध समाप्त हो जाने पर अगले मास तक ही पदािधकारी बने रह सकेंगे। यिद तीन वषर् के बाद एक माह के अन्द र चयिनत सिमित कायर्भार ग्रहण नहीं करती तो 3 वषर् / माह के बाद कालातीत सिमित का कायर्काल स्व तः समाप्त समझा जायेगा और सम्भा गीय उप-िशक्षा िनदेशक द्वा रा मनोनीत एक व्यिक्त प्रबन्ध संचालक कायर्रत माना जायेगा िजसे प्रबिन्ध करण के पूणर् अिधकार हों गे। वह प्रबन्ध संचालक नव चयिनत सिमित को शीघ्र अितशीघ्र कायर्रत करायेगा और यिद प्रबन्ध सिमितयों में अिधकार का दावा है तो िजसके पक्ष में सम्भा गीय उप-िशक्षा िनदेशक का िनणर्य हो, उसे कायर्रत करायेगा।"
4.He has further relied upon the procedure of election as enumerated under Clause 10.
5.For ready reference Clause 10 is reproduced below:-
"10. चुनाव की प्रक्रिया
(1)समिति का कार्यकाल समाप्त होने के तीन माह पूर्व समिति की बैठक बुलाई जायेगी जिसमें चुनाव की तिथि निश्चित की जायेगी और निरीक्षक द्वारा अनुमोदित सूची में से चुनाव अधिकारी की नियुक्ति की जायेगी। चुनाव सम्बन्धी समस्त कार्यवाही तथा कार्यक्रम घोषणा, नामांकन प्राप्ति, जाँच, स्वीकृति, वापसी, मतदान एवं मत पत्र व्यवस्था, मतगणना एवं परिणाम घोषणा आदि चुनाव अधिकारी द्वारा की जायेगी। वे चुनाव परिणाम के साथ सदस्यों एवं पदाधिकारियों के विवरण निरीक्षक को भेजेंगे। वे स्वयं किसी पद सदस्यता हेतु प्रत्याशी न होंगे। चुनाव विद्यालय भवन पर कराया जायेगा।
(2)प्रबन्ध समिति के तीन वर्ष के कार्यकाल पूर्ण होने से दो मास पूर्व चुनाव अधिकारी चुनाव की तिथि घोषित करेंगे। इसकी सूचना निरीक्षक द्वारा अनुमोदित स्थानीय समाचार-पत्र में प्रकाशित करायेंगे। स्थानीय समाचार-पत्र में प्रकाशन के अतिरिक्त साधारण डाक से सूचना देंगे। इस घोषणा में चुनाव का विस्तृत कार्यक्रम घोषित किया जायेगा अर्थात् किस तिथि तक नामांकन, कब तक परीक्षण तथा कब तक नाम वापसी आदि किया जायेगा। चुनाव का स्थान, तिथि तथा समय सहित उसी विज्ञापन में देना होगा।
(3)साधारण सभा के सदस्यों की सूची प्रबन्ध समिति के तीन वर्ष के कार्यकाल समाप्त होने से 11 माह पूर्व घोषित कर दी जायेगी जिसकी पाँच प्रतियां निरीक्षक को भेजी जायेंगी तथा एक प्रति सम्भागीय उप-शिक्षा निदेशक को भी भेजी जायेगी।
(4)चुनाव की सूचना निरीक्षक, जिलाधिकारी तथा पुलिस अधीक्षक को भी दी जायेगी तथा उनसे एक-एक प्रतिनिधि चुनाव के लिये भेजने की प्रार्थना की जायेगी। यह तीनों प्रतिनिधि चुनाव के पर्यवेक्षक होंगे। ये पर्यवेक्षक एक रिपोर्ट निरीक्षक को चुनाव के बाद अगले दिन निरीक्षक के प्रतिनिधि के माध्यम से भेजेंगे। निरीक्षक इसके आधार पर तथा चुनाव अधिकारी की सूचना पर, समिति को मान्यता प्रदान करेंगे। इसके पश्चात् ही वह प्रबन्ध समिति विद्यालय में पहली समिति का कार्यकाल समाप्त होने पर कार्य-भार ग्रहण करेगी।
(5)चुनाव गुप्त मतदान द्वारा होगा। चुनाव पत्र पर चुनाव अधिकारी के हस्ताक्षर होने अनिवार्य होंगे। मतदान पत्र अगले चुनाव तक सुरक्षित रखे जायेंगे।"
6.On the perusal of the aforesaid provision in the Scheme of Administration, it is evident that the term would only expire on 30.09.2026; and the proceedings were initiated for holding of the elections, by the Committee in its meeting dated 13.07.2026, i.e., almost three and half months prior to the expiry of their term. In furtherance thereof, a letter was also sent to the Respondent No. 1, on 18.07.2026 for nominating one of the Election Officers. In response to which the Respondent No. 1 has sought certain information vide its letter dated 27.07.2026, which was also replied on 10.08.2026; whereafter it is the Respondent No. 1, who has failed to nominate the Election Officer, which led to a situation where the election could not be held prior to the expiry of the term of the Committee of Management.
7.The Learned Standing Counsel has submitted that the term had expired on 26.08.2026, which on the perusal of the Scheme of Administration does not seem to be correct; but however even otherwise now the term has expired on 30.09.2026, admittedly.
8.The issue before this Court is whether, once the proceedings were initiated within a reasonable time, i.e., prior to the expiry of the term and the delay was on account of the District Authorities, whether now the Committee can be said to be time-barred and denied the permission to hold the elections.
9.Learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner has placed reliance upon Division Bench judgement of this Court in Committee of Management and another vs. Regional Education Committee, Meerut Region, Meerut and others reported in (2009) 4 UPLBEC 3125, to submit that in case a resolution to hold the election is passed within a reasonable time prior to the expiry of the term, and the election process has started, the Committee cannot be deprived from holding the elections even if during the pendency the term of the Committee has expired; especially in the circumstances that the delay in not holding the election is not attributed to the Committee. He further submits that the Scheme of Administration is to be construed as directory in nature and not mandatory. He has further relied upon a Division Bench decision of this Court in the case of Krishna Dutt Bajpai vs. District Inspector of Schools, Rai Bareli reported in 1985 UPLBEC 551, which has also placed reliance upon a Full Bench decision of this Court in Aley Ahmad Abadi vs. DIOS reported in 1976 AWC 731, to submit that the Scheme cannot be regarded as a piece of subordinate legislation like rules, regulations, statute and ordinance, which an Act empowers the Government or statutory bodies under the Act to make or frame.
10.Prima facie, it appears that the process of election was initiated much prior in time and before the expiry of the term and for no fault of the Committee the election could not be held; therefor in view of the aforesaid Respondent No.1 is directed to file his personal affidavit, addressing the aforesaid issue.
The undisputed facts are, that the last elections took place on 27.08.2023 and was recognized vide order dated 01.09.2026. In view of the aforesaid, petitioner claims that the term, as per the scheme of administration, which is three years and one month, expires on 30.09.2026.
Per contra, learned counsel for the respondents submits that since the newly elected Committee of Management is itself the outgoing Committee of Management, therefore, the term shall be counted from the date at the declaration of the result i.e. 27.08.2023 and as per the scheme of administration, which expires on 26.09.2026 (3 years and 1 month)
Learned Standing Counsel pointing out from Clause 10 of the scheme of administration, that the Committee is required to call the meeting at least three months prior to the expiry of the term i.e. the said date, according to him shall be 25.06.2026; and since the meeting was only called upon on 13.07.2026, the elections cannot be held; though he admits that the meeting which was held on 13.07.2026, the resolution from the same, seeking appointment of the Election Officer was forwarded to the authority.
Sri. Indra Raj Singh, learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner has placed before this Court the notification by the Director of Education (Secondary) Uttar Pradesh dated 10.04.2026, addressed to all the Regional Joint Director of Educations in Uttar Pradesh, wherein it has been provided that in case elections are not held by the Management Committees, it is incumbent upon the District Inspector of Schools to give a one month notice to such Institutions. For ready reference the relevant extract of the notification dated 10.04.2026, is reproduced below.
"(1)शासनादेश संख्या -1009/15-9-2008-25(04)/08 िदनांक 02 िसतम्ब र, 2008 के प्र स्त र-4 के उपप्र स्त र (3) में यह व्यवस्था िविहत है िक “प्र बन्ध सिमित का कायर्काल समाप्त होने से तीन माह पूवर् ही चुनाव कराये जाने की प्रिक्र या प्रा रम्भ कर दी जाय। िजला िवद्या लय िनरीक्ष क संस्था ओंकी प्रबन्ध सिमितयों के गठन की िनयिमत समीक्षा करें तथा िजन प्रबन्ध सिमितयों का कायर्काल समािप्त के िनकट हो, उन्हें चुनाव कराये जाने हेतु नोिटस जारी करें।”
इण्ट रमीिड़ एट िशक्षा अिधिनयम, 1921 में प्रबन्ध सिमित के चुनाव हेतु िजला िवद्या लय िनरीक्ष क से अनुमित प्रा प्त िकये जाने की कोई व्यवस्था िविहत नहीं है। अतः िजन संस्था ओं की प्रबन्ध सिमितयों में कोई िववाद नहीं है, उन सिमितयों के समयान्त गर्त चुनाव कराये जाने हेतु िजला िवद्या लय िनरीक्ष क से अनुमित प्रा प्त िकये जाने की आवश्य कता नहीं है। यिद संस्था की प्रशासन योजना में चुनाव हेतु िनरीक्ष क से अनुमित िलये जाने की व्यवस्था िविहत है तो प्र शासन योजना में िविहत व्यवस्था प्रभावी रहेगी। यह भी उल्ले खनीय है िक िजन संस्था ओं की प्रबन्ध सिमित का कायर्काल पूणर् होने में एक माह शेष रह जाय उन संस्था ओंको प्रबन्ध सिमित के चुनाव हेतु िजला िवद्या लय िनरीक्ष क द्वा रा नोिटस िदया जाना अिनवायर् होगा। साथ ही िजला िवद्या लय िनरीक्ष क जनपद के िवद्या लयों में प्रबन्ध सिमित के गठन के सम्ब न्ध में िनयिमत रूप से समीक्षा की जाय एवं प्रगित िरपोटर् संयुक्त िशक्षा िनदेशक एवं िनदेशालय को प्रे िषत की जाए ।"
In view of the aforesaid, he submits that the criteria of holding the meeting three months prior to the expiry of the term, based on which the District Inspector of School has refused to appoint an Election Officer and declared the Committee to be time barred, has been effectively relaxed by the said notification as under Section 16 A(5) of the U.P. Intermediate Education Act, 1921, the scheme of administration of every Institution is to be approved by the Director and also any change or amendment; and accordingly, he submits that the Director of Education (Secondary) Uttar Pradesh, having provided for a notice to hold the election, prior to one month from the date of expiry of the term, itself is evident of the fact that the requirement for holding an election meeting prior to three months from the expiry of the term, has been relaxed or else the notice that is one month prior expiry to the term will have no meaning.
Sri Indra Raj Singh, learned Senior Counsel has also placed his reliance on the decision in the case of Committee of Management, Sunahari Lal Bal Mukund Inter College and Another Vs. Regional Education Committee and Others; reported in 2009 (4) AWC 3523, wherein the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court, considered quashing the decision of the competent authority, by way of which merely on the ground that the elections were held two days after the expiry of the term of Committee of Management, had held that no elections could be conducted by the Committee of Management; and this Court thereafter had set aside the decision of the D.I.O.S.
In the aforesaid case, it was considered that since the resolution to hold election was passed prior to the expiry of the term, therefore, the mere fact that the elections were held after the expiry of the term, was held to be not fatal to the election, on the said ground itself.
In facts of the present case, I am of the considered view that admittedly the resolution was passed for holding the election on 13.07.2026 and the District Inspector of School has also taken cognizance of the matter and has also sent a letter dated 24.07.2026 to the Manager of the Institution seeking certain documents, and now he cannot take a stand that since the resolution was not passed, at least three months prior to the expiry of the term of the Committee of Management, therefor the Committee is time barred.
In the opinion of the Court, it was incumbent upon him to appoint an Inquiry Officer, and thereafter the election ought to have been conduct. It has also been submitted that even the last election was an uncontested election and there is no dispute as such regarding the management, therefore, the denial for the appointment of the Election Officer by the respondent no. 1, on a hyper technical ground, cannot defeat right of the Committee to hold an election, especially when the said process was initiated almost two and a half months prior to the expiry of the term.
The notification dated 10.04.2026 itself contemplates that a notice to hold the election has to be given by the District Inspector of School, which is one month prior to the expiry of the term of Management, which was also not given and in view of the aforesaid also the requirement to pass a resolution for holding the election, at least three months prior to the expiry of the term, cannot be considered as mandatory, so as to eliminate the right of the Committee of Management to hold the election; and accordingly in view of the fact that also no other ground and contention has been raised on behalf of the respondent, the Court is of the view that the impugned order dated 18.05.2026 passed by the respondent no. 1 cannot be sustained in the eyes of law and is accordingly set aside.
It is further provided that the respondent no. 1 shall proceed to appoint the Election Officer within a period of one week from the date of service of the certified copy of this order, who shall conduct the election within a period of two months thereafter, strictly in accordance with the scheme of administration.
With the aforesaid observations and directions, the present writ petition is allowed.