Proceedings of CEO, Dindigul to recover money from HM stayed

: Madras High Court Bench has stayed proccedings of the Chief Education Officer, Dindigul, asking the headmistress of a government Higher secondary school to remit money for 26 laptops stolen from her school.
Justice K Ravichandrababu ordered stay and notice to the CEO among others, on a petition filed by P Vasanthi Stella Bai, headmistress of the school at Kosukurichi.
The petitioner submitted that 61 laptops were sent to her school and she was orally informed they should be given to students by ruling party members. The disbursement was twice postponed.
Meanwhile 26 laptops were stolen on July 25 2013. She lodged a police complaint and informed the CEO and also the director.

On Oct 21 the CEO asked her to explain the action taken after the theft, which she had done. However a Jan 6 2014 Government Order instructed that the money for the stolen laptops be recovered, following which the CEO directed her to remit the money.
The petitioner contended that the G.O itself had not fixed who all were responsible for storing the laptops,and who was responsible in case they were stolen. Besides the CEO's order did not explain how she was responsible for the theft.
She pointed out that the laptops had been stolen after school hours. Had the theft occurred during school hours,there would be meaning in fixing the liablity on her.

The watchman was appointed through Parent Teachers association and would be present only during the day. Just because the laptops were stolen she could not be held responsible, she said.