In Panaji, the high court of Bombay at Goa has issued directions for the regular promotion process to be initiated for the post of principal at Shree Ganesh Higher Secondary School, Ganeshpuri-Mapusa. The court emphasized that the practice of holding an "officiating charge" indefinitely must not be continued. All relevant parties, including government authorities, have been instructed to convene the departmental promotion committee promptly for this purpose. The completion of regular promotions to the principal role is expected within two months, following the retirement of the previous principal on July 31. The court, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice M S Karnik, has mandated the school management to duly consider appointing Shilpa Pai Panandikar as the officiating principal based on seniority, within a period of ten days. Shilpa had approached the court seeking to overturn an office order appointing Sandeep V Palni as the officiating principal. The court underscored the importance of respecting seniority even in officiating appointments, unless there are valid grounds to do otherwise. While the school management had cited the introduction of science subjects as justification for appointing Palni, the court deemed this reasoning as not sufficient.The importance of giving due consideration to seniority when appointing an officiating principal cannot be overlooked. Shilpa believed she should have been appointed as officiating principal and sought legal recourse with the assistance of her advocate, senior counsel S D Lotlikar. The High Court noted that Rule 86 of the Goa Education Rules 1986 mandates promotion to fill vacancies for the principal position at a higher secondary school, with preference given to the most senior teacher in the selection process.