$~12 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 10178/2026 TITIKSHA PUBLIC SCHOOL .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Pramod Gupta, Ms. Yogita, Ms. Riya Khandelwal, Advocates. versus DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION .....Respondent Through: Mr. Gaurav Dhingra, Mr. Shashank Singh, Advocates. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA O R D E R % 29.07.2026 1. The Petitioner, a recognised private unaided school, seeks a direction to the Respondents to decide its proposal dated 02nd February, 2026 submitted under Section 8(2) of the Delhi School Education Act, 19731 read with Rule 120(2) of the Delhi School Education Rules, 1973,2 seeking prior approval for imposition of the major penalty of compulsory retirement upon Mr. Manish Kumar Singh. The grievance of the Petitioner is that despite the lapse of nearly six months, no decision has been taken on the said proposal. 2. Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Mr. Manish Kumar Singh on allegations, inter alia, of conducting private coaching/tuitions while in service, in breach of the Code of Conduct prescribed under the DSE Act and Rules, as well as wilful absence from classes and other acts of 1 “DSE Act” This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/08/2026 at 11:27:42 misconduct. Upon conclusion of the inquiry, the Inquiry Officer held the Articles of Charge to be proved, including the charge of wilful neglect of duty under Rule 123(1)(a)(i), (vi) and (viii) of the Code of Conduct of Teachers. 3. Section 8(2) of the DSE Act mandates that no employee of a recognised private school shall be dismissed, removed, reduced in rank or otherwise have his services terminated except with the prior approval of the Director of Education. Rule 120 of the DSE Rules further requires the school to forward the complete record of the disciplinary proceedings to the Director for obtaining such approval before imposing a major penalty. Accordingly, the Petitioner submitted a proposal dated 02nd February, 2026 seeking approval under Section 8(2) of the Act read with Rule 120(2) of the Rules. Despite the lapse of nearly six months and repeated reminders addressed by the Petitioner, no decision has been taken thereon. Aggrieved thereby, the Petitioner has approached this Court by way of the present petition, seeking a limited direction to the Respondents to decide the aforesaid proposal. 4. Considering the aforenoted facts and the statement of Mr. Gaurav Dhingra, counsel appearing for the Directorate of Education, that the Petitioner’s proposal for approval continues to remain pending, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to the Respondents to take a decision on the Petitioner’s proposal, in accordance with law, and communicate the same to the Petitioner within a period of four weeks from today. 5. It is clarified that the present order shall not be construed as a direction to grant approval to the proposal. The same shall be considered 2 “DSE Rules” This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/08/2026 at 11:27:42 independently by the Directorate of Education, strictly in accordance with law. This Court has expressed no opinion on the merits of the proposal. 6. With the above directions, the present petition is disposed of. SANJEEV NARULA, J JULY 29, 2026/ab This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/08/2026 at 11:27:42