The Educational Committee v. School Education Department
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 13.11.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN W.P.Nos.18022, 20967, 20972 of 2021 & 4486, 27618, 27622, 27624, 27630, 27633 of 2022 & 6307, 9802, 16852, 16859, 25460, 25464, 25467, 25469, 25470, 25473, 28494, 31286 of 2023 & 24483 of 2024 and W.M.P.Nos.19256, 19257, 22230, 22231, 22235, 22236 of 2021 & 26889, 26890, 26894, 26895, 26898, 26899, 26906, 26907, 26909, 26910 of 2022 & 6337, 9883, 16101, 16105, 24855, 24857, 24862, 24863, 24866, 26283, 28364 of 2023 & 26791, 26792 of 2024 W.P.No.18022 of 2021 :- The Educational Committee, Rep. By its Secretary B.Kumar, Ambur Synod, Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ambur Synod Office, Mission Compound, Ambur, Vellore District.
...Petitioner
-Vs1. The Commissioner, School Education Department, Chennai - 600 006.
2. The Chief Educational Officer, Vellore District, Vellore.
3. The District Educational Officer, Vellore District, Vellore.
4. The Correspondent, Concordia Aided High School, Pernampet, Vellore District.
5. S.Sakarabani, Physical Education Teacher, Concordia Aided High School, Pernampet, Vellore District.
... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorari, call for the records relevant to the order in Na.Ka.No.1446/B3/2021 dated 12.08.2021 passed by the second respondent and quash the same as illegal, improper, unreasonable arbitrary and against the principles of natural justice. For Petitioner : Mr.B.Gopalakrishnan For Respondents For R1 to R3 : Mr.Mythreye Chandru Special Government Pleader For R5 : Mr.S.N.Ravichandran COMMON ORDER The Writ Petitions in W.P.Nos.18022, 20967, 20972 of 2021 & 4486, 27618, 27622, 27624, 27630, 27633 of 2022 & 24483 of 2024 have been filed challenging the approval granted by the Chief Educational
Officer, Vellore District, for appointment of various posts by the Interim Administrator of the Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ambur. 2.
The Writ Petitions in W.P.Nos.6307, 28494, 31286 of 2023 have been filed for direction directing the District Educational Officer, Tirupattur, to approve the appointment and promotion granted to the petitioners and also to disburse the arrears of salary and other consequential monetary benefits to the petitioners herein. 3.
The Writ Petitions in W.P.Nos.9802, 16852, 16859, 25460, 25464, 25467, 25469, 25470, 25473 of 2023 have been filed challenging the orders passed by the District Educational Officer, Thirupattur, thereby rejecting the appointment and promotion granted to the petitioners. 4.
Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials placed before this Court. 5.
On perusal of the records, it is revealed that the petitioner in
W.P.Nos.18022, 20967, 20972 of 2021 & 4486, 27618, 27622, 27624, 27630, 27633 of 2022 & 24483 of 2024 is a rival group to the Educational Committee of the Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church and there is a dispute between the petitioner and the other group. The appointments were made by the Interim Administrator, who was appointed by this Court viz., Justice D.Hariparanthaman (Retd.) and the appointments were approved by the Chief Educational Officer, Vellore District. Therefore, the petitioner is in no way in the picture of the Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church Educational Committee.
6.
Further subsequently, the Interim Administrator period was also over and the new Education Committee took charge. That committee period was also over and now fresh election has been conducted. Even at the time of filing of these petitions, the petitioner was not in the picture and the petitioner had nothing to do with the appointments made by the Interim Administrator of the Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church which was also approved by the Chief Educational Officer, Vellore District. That apart, all the appointments were made in the sanctioned vacancies. Therefore, the appointments were rightly approved by the Chief
Educational Officer, Vellore District.
7.
Considering the above facts and circumstances, this Court finds no infirmity or illegality in the order of approval granted by the Chief Educational Officer, Vellore District, in respect of the appointments made by the Interim Administrator and order of their approval. Further, the rejection orders passed by the District Educational Officer, Thirupattur, cannot be sustained and are liable to be set aside. Hence, the impugned orders passed in W.P.Nos.9802, 16852, 16859, 25460, 25464, 25467, 25469, 25470, 25473 of 2023 are hereby set aside. The District Educational Officer, Thirupattur is directed to approve the appointment & promotion of the petitioners and to disburse all the arrears of salary and other consequential monetary benefits to all the petitioners within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this Order.
8.
Accordingly, the Writ Petitions in W.P.Nos.18022, 20967, 20972 of 2021 & 4486, 27618, 27622, 27624, 27630, 27633 of 2022 & 24483 of 2024 are dismissed. The Writ Petitions in W.P.Nos.6307, 9802, 16852, 16859, 25460, 25464, 25467, 25469, 25470, 25473, 28494, 31286 of 2023, are allowed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
13.11.2025 Index : Yes/No : Yes/No Speaking/Non Speaking order Note : Registry is directed to incorporate cause title for all the cases and issue order copy.
rts
To
1. The Commissioner, School Education Department, Chennai - 600 006.
2. The Chief Educational Officer, Vellore District, Vellore.
3. The District Educational Officer, Vellore District, Vellore.
4. The Correspondent, Concordia Aided High School, Pernampet, Vellore District.
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN. J, rts W.P.Nos.18022, 20967, 20972 of 2021 & 4486, 27618, 27622, 27624, 27630, 27633 of 2022 & 6307, 9802, 16852, 16859, 25460, 25464, 25467, 25469, 25470, 25473, 28494, 31286 of 2023 & 24483 of 2024 13.11.2025