The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the order passed by Director School Education, Punjab on March 9, whereby the Director had appointed Deputy District Education Officer, Patiala as Administrator of Mohindra Kanya Maha Vidyala and further directed the Director to file his personal affidavit for making such appointment.

The order was passed by Justice Pankaj Jain on a petition filed by the Managing Committee of Mohindra Kanya Maha Vidyala, Nabha Gate, Patiala through its Secretary, Preetinder Singh Sidhu whereby the Committee had challenged this appointment being not only illegal and arbitrary, but also totally against the canon of justice.

It was contended by Kapil Kakkar and Shreesh Kakkar, counsel for the Petitioner, Managing Committee, that the Director had no authority under any law, statute, regulation or rule to make such appointment and as such the order was not only without jurisdiction but was an attempt to hijack the management of the school which was running smoothly.

It was further alleged that the Director had passed the order totally with malafide intention at the behest of the DEO, Patiala who was having a grudge towards the management since long and the authorities of the Education Department were unnecessarily creating hurdles in the functioning of the school.

It was further pointed out by Kakkar that earlier also an attempt was made by the Director whereby Correspondent was appointed and the management had to approach the Hon'ble High Court where upon the High Court had issued notice but still under the garb of frivolous allegations which were far from truth, the administrator had been appointed.