Sri Sivaprakasa Swamigal Higher Secondary School Secondary School v. State Of Tamil Nadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 11.08.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Writ Petition No.4132 of 2024 Sri Sivaprakasa Swamigal Higher Secondary School, Mailam Village, Tindivanam Taluk, Villupuram District 604 304.
Rep. by its Secretary, S.Viswanathan ... Petitioner ..Vs..
1.State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. By its Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.
2.The Director of School Education, DPI Campus, College Road, Chennai 600 006.
3.The Joint Director of School Education (Secondary) O/o. The Director of School Education, DPI Campus, College Road, Chennai 600 006.
4.The Chief Educational officer, Villupuram District, Villupuram.
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5.The District Educational officer, Tindivanam Education District, Tindivanam, Villupuram District.
... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents to pass orders for conversion of English Medium section permitted to the petitioner school on self finance basis and to bring the same under G.O.Ms.No.148, School Education Department, dated 20.07.2018 in consideration of application dated 10.05.2023 submitted by the petitioner school and in the light of the orders passed by the 3rd respondent in Mu.Mu.No.20350/D1/E4/2023 dated 26.07.2023, with all consequential and other attendant benefits, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.
For Petitioner :
M/s.S.Banumathi For Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan For Respondents : Mr.S.Prabakaran Government Advocate
ORDER
The present writ petition has been filed with a prayer for mandamus, directing the respondents to pass orders for conversion of English Medium section permitted to the petitioner school on self-finance basis and to bring the same under G.O.Ms.No.148, School Education Department, dated 20.07.2018 in consideration of application dated 10.05.2023 submitted by the petitioner 2/6
school and in the light of the orders passed by the 3rd respondent in Mu.Mu.No.20350/D1/E4/2023 dated 26.07.2023, with all consequential and other attendant benefits, within a stipulated time.
2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is seeking approval for the conversion of the medium of instruction in their school from Tamil to English. It is further submitted that the petitioner's school, originally established in 1956 for classes 6 to 10, was upgraded to a Higher Secondary School in 2005. The learned counsel further submitted that many students from rural areas aspire to study in the English medium, but are unable to afford the fees charged by matriculation schools. Considering this, the school Management deemed it appropriate to convert the medium of instruction from Tamil to English.
2.1 In this regard, the petitioner's school submitted a representation dated 27.06.2023, requesting permission to introduce an English medium section on a self-financing basis, in accordance with G.O.Ms.No.148, School Education Department, dated 20.07.2018, and the said representation is still 3/6
pending before the respondents. In pursuance thereof, the Joint Director of School Education has forwarded the proposal to the Chief Educational Officer, recommending that necessary orders be passed for the conversion to an English medium section on self-financing basis, as per G.O.Ms.No.148 School Education Department dated 20.07.2018.
3. At this juncture, the learned Government Advocate appearing on behalf of the respondents fairly submitted that they will consider the petitioner's representation dated 27.06.2023 and pass orders according to its own merits and in accordance with law, within a reasonable time.
4. I have given my anxious consideration to either side submissions and also perused the materials available on record.
5. In view of the above fair submission made by the learned Government Advocate without going to the merits of the writ petition, this Court deems it appropriate to direct the respondents to consider the petitioner's above representation dated 27.06.2023 and pass orders, according 4/6
to its own merits and in accordance with law within a period of eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The respondents are also directed to consider the proposal dated 26.07.2023, forwarded by the Joint Director of School Education to the Chief Educational Officer, pursuant to the petitioner's representation dated 27.06.2023.
6. With the above observations, the writ petition stands disposed of. No costs.
11.08.2025 ssi Index : Yes Speaking Order : Yes/No To:
1.The Principal Secretary to Government, State of Tamil Nadu, School Education Department, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009. 2.The Director of School Education, DPI Campus, College Road, Chennai 600 006.
3.The Joint Director of School Education (Secondary) O/o. The Director of School Education, DPI Campus, College Road, Chennai 600 006.
4.The Chief Educational officer, Villupuram District, Villupuram.
5.The District Educational officer, Tindivanam Education District, Tindivanam, Villupuram District.
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C.KUMARAPPAN, J.
ssi W.P.No.4132 of 2024 11.08.2025 6/6