the factual position as to the distance between the school of the petitioner and the nearest school and to submit a report. In the report filed by the Assistant Educational Officer, Erattupettah, he had conveyed the position that the school of the petitioner is situated more than 2 Km. away from the nearest school. After effecting the inspection, the fourth respondent by Ext.P14 reported before the third respondent that the nearest school namely St. Joseph U.P. School, Malayinchipara is situated 3.5 Km. away from petitioner's school; that the petitioner's school is situated in a hilly and tribal area; that other nearby school as stated in paragraph 3 of the said report was situated more than 7 kilometres away from the petitioner's school and further that the roads in the area in and around the petitioner's school are not having good facilities but are muddy Panchayath roads. In spite of the crystal-clear facts mentioned in the said report, the third respondent simply chose to deal with the issue in an evasive manner and sent Ext.P15 report to the second respondent/Government stating that the distance aspect as to the nearest school situated at 3.5 Km away was also taken into consideration when Ext.P11 order was passed and that only such schools having less than 50 pupils were ordered to be closed down. Believing the words of the third respondent to be true, the Government passed Exts.P5 and P6 orders which are stated as not correct or sustainable.
