New Delhi, July 6 -- In an important order on the suspension of employees in recognised private schools, a Full Bench of the Delhi High Court has held that an order suspending an employee without prior approval of the Director of Education (DoE) automatically lapses if such approval is not granted within 15 days.

The Court clarified that any approval granted after the expiry of the statutory 15-day period cannot revive the lapsed suspension, and if the management still seeks to suspend the employee, it must obtain prior approval and issue a fresh suspension order.

The Full Bench comprising Justice C Hari Shankar, Justice Om Prakash Shukla and Justice Renu Bhatnagar answered a reference arising from conflicting Division Bench decisions i...