Panaji: The high court of Bombay at Goa has directed all concerned, including government authorities, to start the process of regular promotion to the position of principal at Shree Ganesh Higher Secondary School in Ganeshpuri-Mapusa. The court emphasized that the exercise of regular promotions should be completed within two months. The vacancy for the principal position arose when the previous principal retired on July 31. The court instructed the school management to consider appointing Shilpa Pai Panandikar as the acting principal based on seniority, and to make a decision within ten days.

Shilpa had filed a petition seeking to invalidate an office order that appointed Sandeep V Palni as the acting principal. The court noted that even for an acting position, seniority should be respected unless there are valid reasons not to do so. The court disagreed with the argument that Palni was chosen due to his educational background in science to lead the school's science program, stating that seniority should take precedence.

Advocate Rui Gomes Pereira, representing the school management, argued that Palni was chosen for the acting position in light of the introduction of science subjects in the school. However, the court found this reasoning inadequate and emphasized the importance of considering seniority in such appointments.The importance of considering seniority in the decision to appoint an officiating principal cannot be overlooked. Shilpa, who should have been granted the opportunity to serve as principal, sought legal action with the representation of senior counsel S D Lotlikar. The High Court noted that according to Rule 86 of the Goa Education Rules 1986, vacancies for principal in higher secondary schools should be filled through promotion, prioritizing the selection of the most senior teacher.