Madras High CourtWP/909/2026disposed of with direction

Dr.Shweta Lizbeth Oomen v. The University Grants Commission

2026-02-27Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani8 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 27.02.2026

CORAM:

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M. DHANDAPANI and W.M.P. Nos. 1110 & 6054 of 2026 Dr.Shweta Lizbeth Oommen Petitioner Vs

1. The University Grants Commission Represented by its Chairperson Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg New Delhi 110002 2.The Registrar Puducherry University Puducherry 3.The Director-Administration Madras Medical Mission No.4A, J J Nagar Mogappair Chennai 600 037.

4.Pondicherry Institute Of Medical Sciences Represented by its Chairman Ganapathichettikulam Village, No.20 Kalapet Pondicherry 605014.

5.The Director-Principal Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences Ganapathichettikulam Village, No.20 Kalapet Pondicherry 605 014.

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6.The Manager Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences Office of The Manager (Administration) Ganapathichettikulam Village, No.20 Kalapet Pondicherry 605 014.

7.The Inspector of Police Kalapet Police Station Puducherry.

Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records of the 4th respondent dated 26.12.2025 pertaining to the Order of Termination and the consequential Order to vacate the Quarters No.C-1 dated 27.12.2025 passed by the 6th respondent and quash the same.

For petitioner : Mr.M.V.S. Rajeev Amreeth For respondents : Mr. Abishek Jenasenan for R2, 4, 5 & 6 Mr.R. Sreedhar for R7

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed to call for the records of the 4th respondent dated 26.12.2025 pertaining to the Order of Termination and the consequential Order to vacate the Quarters No.C-1 dated 27.12.2025 passed by the 6th respondent and quash the same.

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2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner was appointed as Tutor in the fourth respondent Institution in the year 2011, made permanent in 2012 and subsequently promoted as Assistant Professor in 2023. He further submitted that in 2022, she was appointed as Principal in the School of Medical Sciences, an Allied Health College under Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), which is a unit of Madras Medical Mission.

3. According to the learned counsel, a complaint of sexual assault was made by eight girl students against two technicians of the Department of Radiology, namely Diwakar and Saravanan. Subsequently, the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), upon enquiry, recommended termination of Diwakar and suspension of Saravanan. However, despite the oral representations made by the petitioner to implement the recommendations, the 5th respondent allegedly failed to act upon the same within the time stipulated, resulting in student protests and representations to the official respondents. It is the grievance of the petitioner that without issuing any prior notice, the 4th respondent passed an order dated 26.12.2025 terminating her from service. Consequentially, the 6th respondent issued a communication dated 27.12.2025, thereby directed the petitioner to vacate the quarters, without granting reasonable time to secure alternative accommodation. Aggrieved by the 3/8

aforesaid Communications dated 26.12.2025 and 27.12.2025 issued to her, this writ petition has been filed. While so, it is the grievance of the petitioner that by way of an e-mail of the 5th respondent dated 06.01.2026, again she was directed to vacate the quarters, on or before 10.01.2026, only by a short span of time.

4. Earlier, this Court, vide order dated 12.01.2026, after taking note of the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, granted an order of interim stay.

5. Today, when the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned counsel for the petitioner, on instructions, confined the relief to three requests. Learned counsel for the petitioner fairly submitted that during the pendency of the writ petition, the respondents have issued a relieving order to the petitioner, before two days. However, firstly, he submitted that the petitioner's DCRG and other terminal benefits have not yet been settled. Secondly, he submitted that this Court may issue a direction to the respondents to issue Work Experience Certificate and to settle all applicable monetary benefits, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

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6. Finally, he argued that without taking a sympathetic condition of the petitioner as she is a single mother having two minor children, who are studying now, the respondents are tracking the petitioner to vacate the quarters. Hence, he prayed before this Court that this Court may issue suitable directions to the respondents to permit the petitioner to occupy the quarters till the end of April 2026, till such time, the petitioner may not be disturbed.

7. This Court, taking note of the submissions made and considering the academic interest of the petitioner's children, expressed the view that the petitioner shall not be disturbed from the quarters till 30.05.2026, so as to enable her children to complete the academic year and thereby the petitioner will be provided a reasonable time to find suitable accommodation.

8. Learned counsel appearing for the contesting respondents, on instructions, submitted that the respondents are in agreement with the view expressed by this Court and he submitted that this Court may record his submissions that the petitioner will not be disturbed from the subject quarters till 30.05.2026.

9. Responding to the other submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner, he submitted all terminal benefits, including DCRG and other 5/8

eligible monetary benefits, will be settled before 30.05.2026 and that the Work Experience Certificate will also be issued within the said time. In view of the above, this Court may dispose of this writ petition.

10. Recording the fair submissions made by learned counsel on either side, this Court issues the following directions: a) The respondents shall permit the petitioner to retain the quarters till 30.05.2026 and thereafter, the petitioner shall hand over the subject quarters on the stipulated date, without seeking any further extension. b) The respondents are further directed not to disturb the petitioner's possession of the quarters till 30.05.2026.

c) The respondents are also directed to settle all applicable terminal and monetary benefits, including DCRG, and issue the Work Experience Certificate to the petitioner before 30.05.2026.

11. With the above directions, this writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 27.02.2026 Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order vsi2 6/8

4.Pondicherry Institute Of Medical Sciences Represented by its Chairman Ganapathichettikulam Village, No.20 Kalapet Pondicherry 605014.

5.The Director-Principal Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences Ganapathichettikulam Village, No.20 Kalapet Pondicherry 605 014.

6.The Manager Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences Office of The Manager (Administration) Ganapathichettikulam Village, No.20 Kalapet Pondicherry 605 014.

7.The Inspector of Police Kalapet Police Station Puducherry.

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M. DHANDAPANI, J.

vsi2 and W.M.P. Nos. 1110 & 6054 of 2026 27.02.2026 8/8