Panaji: The high court of Bombay at Goa has directed government authorities to start the process of promoting a principal at Shree Ganesh Higher Secondary School within two months. The court also instructed the school management to appoint an acting principal based on seniority within ten days. This decision came after a teacher, Shilpa Pai Panandikar, filed a petition challenging the appointment of Sandeep V Palni as acting principal. The court emphasized that seniority should be considered for acting appointments unless there are valid reasons to do otherwise."The importance of prioritizing seniority must be considered when assigning officiating charge. Merely citing reasons such as experience cannot be used to overlook the seniority of a teacher. Shilpa, who had expected to be appointed as acting principal, sought legal assistance from her advocate, senior counsel S D Lotlikar, and took the matter to court. The High Court noted that according to Rule 86 of the Goa Education Rules 1986, vacancies in the principal position of a higher secondary school should be filled through promotion. In the selection process, school managements are required to give preference to the most senior teacher."