application for leave without allowances was granted or not by the competent authority. It is a settled position that mere putting of an application for leave without allowances will not enable the concerned employee to go on leave and if he had abstained from continuing duty after putting such an application, it is at his/her peril and it can be construed only as unauthorised absence. The specific case of the respondents is that even with respect to the rejection of his first application, he was duly intimated. However, the petitioner did not join duty. Be that as it may, the question is, whether the petitioner, who is unauthorisedly absent till 30.9.1986 was proceeded against by the competent authorities viz., the first respondent, in accordance with law. In the case of the persons who are unauthorisedly absent from duty, the provisions under the kerala Education Rules permits initiation of disciplinary proceedings. In short, even if a person unauthorisedly absents from duty, he can be terminated from service only after following the procedures prescribed under the Kerala Education Rules for that purpose. In this context, it is apposite to note that the respondents have no case that the petitioner has abandoned the service. In other words, according to the respondents, the petitioner is unauthorisedly absent. If that be the case, necessarily termination of the petitioner from service can be effected only after following the procedures prescribed under the Kerala Education Rules. The specific stand taken by the fifth respondent is that the
