K.Mahendran v. The Chief Secretary To Government
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 05.08.2021 CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR.SANJIB BANERJEE, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P.D.AUDIKESAVALU W.P.No.13438 of 2021 and WMP Nos.14307 & 14309 of 2021 K.Mahendran
...Petitioner
Vs 1.The Chief Secretary to Government Government of Tamil Nadu Office of Revenue and Disaster Management Department Secretariat, Fort St. George Chennai 600 009.
2.Government of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Secretary to Government School Education Department Secretariat, Fort St. George Chennai 600 009.
3.The Commissioner Directorate of School Education DPI Complex, College Road Chennai 600 006.
...Respondents
Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 3 to constitute a Committee consisting of experts in the field of school education, parents representative, recognised social activists and private school authorities, to find out an alternative method to increase the efficiency in imparting education through online classes and also to fix a nominal percentage of fees on the overall fees amount to be paid by the students for the academic year 20212022, by giving waiver to the arrears of fess pertaining to the academic year 2020-2021, by taking into consideration the impact of Covid-19 second wave and the continuing lockdown and to give sufficient time to the parents to pay the fees fixed by such Committee for the academic year 2021-2022, by considering the representation of the petitioner dated 14.06.2021.
For Petitioner :
Mr.R.Gopinath For Respondents :
Mr.C.Harsha Raj Counsel for State
ORDER
(Made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) It is submitted on behalf of the petitioner that though this public interest litigation has been filed in respect of school fees during the Covid times, a reasoned order has been passed by a Single Bench of this court on July 30, 2021, issuing certain directions particularly as to the extent of the fees that ought to be paid during the period that the students do not attend school but participate in online classes.
2. The State seeks time on the ground of learned AdvocateGeneral.
3. Since a considered order has been passed on the matter, elsewhere in this court, this public interest litigation need not be pursued any further. W.P.No.13438 of 2021 is disposed of. However, nothing in this order will preclude any appeal from the order dated July 30, 2021 and nothing in this order should be read to be an endorsement of the relevant Single Bench order.
4. There will be no order as to costs. WMP Nos.14307 and 14309 of 2021 are closed.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CO) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar kpl To 1.The Chief Secretary to Government Government of Tamil Nadu Office of Revenue and Disaster Management Department Secretariat, Fort St. George Chennai 600 009.
2.The Secretary to Government School Education Department Secretariat, Fort St. George Chennai 600 009.
3.The Commissioner Directorate of School Education DPI Complex, College Road Chennai 600 006.
+1cc to the Government Pleader, Sr.No.38787 W.P.No.13438 of 2021 AJS(CO) RVM(09/08/2021)