Dr.Dr.Devika v. The Chairman
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 16-04-2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MRS JUSTICE N. MALA WP No. 9251 of 2025 and WMP.No. 10367 of 2025 Dr.Devika ..Petitioner Vs
1. The Chairman Equivalence Committee/ Principal Secretary, Government Of Higher Education Department, Chennai.
2. The Principal Arulmigu Planiandavar College Of Arts And Culture, Dindigul Road, Palani-624 601.
3. The Registrar Madurai Kamaraj University, Palkalai Nagar, Madruai 625 021.
..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for issuance of writ of mandamus, directing the 1st respondent to issue an equivalency certificate that the M.Sc., Material Science and Technology which is offered by the Pondicherry University is equivalent to M.Sc., Physics by considering the representation dated 04.12.2024 and pass such further or other orders.
For Petitioner: Mr. T.Leninkumar For Respondents: M/s. S.Indhubala, AGP - R1 Mr.R. Bharanidharan - R2 Mr.D.Ravichander, Standing Counsel -R3
ORDER
Prayer in the writ petition is to direct the 1st respondent to issue an equivalence certificate that the M.Sc., Material Science and Technology which is offered by the Pondicherry University is equivalent to M.Sc., Physics, by considering the representation submitted by the petitioner on 04.12.2024.
2. The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner joined Master of Science in Material Science & Technology at Pondicherry Engineering College. The petitioner completed her post graduation with distinction in May 2012. The petitioner applied for the post of Assistant Professor of Physics, at Arulmigu Palaniandavar College of Arts and Culture, which is a Government aided College affiliated with Madurai Kamaraj University. She was called for interview, which was scheduled to be held on 07.10.2024, with instruction to bring all her original certificates and the petitioner also produced all the original certificates at the time of interview. While so, the Tamil Nadu State
Council for Higher Education, informed the petitioner that her post graduate degree in M.Sc., Material Science and Technology was not equivalent to M.Sc Physics as per G.O.(Ms) No.193 dated 07.08.2019. The petitioner made several attempts to establish her case, but all her efforts were in vain as the college refused to accept the same. The petitioner therefore submitted a representation on 04.02.2024, to the 1st respondent to issue equivalence certificate. Since no action was taken, the petitioner filed the present writ petition.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that it would suffice if a direction is issued to the 1st respondent to consider and pass orders on the representation submitted by the petitioner on 04.12.2024, within a time frame stipulated by this Court.
4. Considering the limited prayer sought for by the learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court, without going into the merits of the case, directs the 1st respondent to dispose the representation submitted by the petitioner on 04.12.2024, and pass orders on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
N.MALA, J ak
5. With the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. 16-04-2025 To
1. The Chairman Equivalence Committee/ Principal Secretary, Government Of Higher Education Department, Chennai.
2. The Principal Arulmigu Planiandavar College Of Arts And Culture Dindigul Road, Palani-624 601.
3. The Registrar Madurai Kamaraj University, Palkalai Nagar, Madruai 625 021.
WP No. 9251 of 2025 and WMP.No. 10367 of 2025