A.V.Dhayaneeswaran v. The Secretary To Government

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 15-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA and W.M.P.No.23665 of 2026

1. A.V.Dhayaneeswaran Office Assistant, Commissionerate, Chennai - 600 005.

2. S.Perumal, Office Assistant, Commissionerate, Chennai 600 005.

3. T.Veerasamy, Office Assistant, Commissionerate, Chennai 600 005.

4. K.Thiyagarajan, Office Assistant, Commissionerate, Chennai 600 005.

5. R.Prabhu, Office Assistant,

Commissionerate,

6. T.Sundaramurthy, Office Assistant, Commissionerate,

7. P.Balashankar, Office Assistant, Commissionerate,

8. G.Saravanakumar, Office Assistant, Commissionerate,

9. C.Thirupathi, Office Assistant, Commissionerate, 10.P.L.Venkateswaran, Office Assistant, Commissionerate,

..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.

2. The Commissioner,

3. The Annamalai University Rep. by its Registrar, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram.

..Respondent(s) Prayer: This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents herein to confer the benefit of stage wise advancement of scales of pay as per the policy of the Annamalai University on completion of 7 years, 14 years and 21 years to non-promotive categories by taking into account section 56 of the Annamalai University Act, 2015 which prescribes that the service conditions of the Employees shall be protected or in the alternative direct the respondents to grant the petitioners with Selection Grade on completion of 10 years of service and Special grade on completion of 20 years of service. For Petitioner(s) :

Ms.S.Suneetha For Respondent(s) :

Mr.V.Sivalingam, Government Advocate for R1 and R2 Mr.Venkatesh, for M/s.Ajmal Associates for R3

ORDER

This writ petition is filed for the following relief: "directing the respondents herein to confer the benefit of stage wise advancement of scales of pay as per the policy of the Annamalai University on completion of 7 years, 14 years and 21 years to non-promotive categories by taking into account section 56 of the Annamalai University Act, 2015 which prescribes that the service conditions of the Employees shall be protected or in the alternative direct the respondents to grant the petitioners with Selection Grade on completion of 10 years of service and Special grade on completion of 20 years of service."

2. It is the case of the petitioners that they were appointed between various dates in the Annamalai University as Office Assistants, which was taken over by the Government in the year 2013 and a committee was formed to consider various issues in the University. As per the existing policy of the University, for any non-promotive category, 4 stages of pay were to be given on completion of 7, 14 and 21 years. During the year 2016-2017, the Committee gave a report to the Government with respect to deployment of certain staffs. Accordingly, the petitioners were all deployed to the second respondent in the year 2019 and are working as such till date. Seeking to grant the benefit of stage wise advancement of scales of pay, as per the Policy of the said University or in the alternative to grant the petitioners with Selection Grade on completion of 10

years of service and Special grade on completion of 20 years of service, the petitioners made several representations before the respondents. However, the same has not been considered. Hence, the petitioners are before this Court seeking the aforesaid relief.

3. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.

4. Considering the relief now sought for by the learned counsel for the petitioners, this Court, without going into the merits of the case, directs the respondents to consider and pass orders on the petitioners representation based on the Government's Policy with reference to grant of Selection Grade and Special Grade to them, on merits and in accordance with law and to pass appropriate orders, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

5. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition in W.M.P.No.23665 of 2026 is ordered as prayed for.

15-06-2026 Index: Yes/No rap

P.T.ASHA, J.

rap To

1. The Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.

2. The Commissioner, Revenue Administration and Disaster Management Department,

3. The Annamalai University Rep. by its Registrar, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram.

15-06-2026