A.Anand v. The Secretary To Government

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 12.01.2024 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.SANJAY V.GANGAPURWALA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY A.Anand .. Petitioner in W.P.No.30566/2023 Dr.Jerome Samraj .. Petitioner in W.P.No.31098/2023 Vs 1.The Secretary to Government (Higher Education), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, New Delhi.

2.Pondicherry University, rep. by its Registrar, 3.The Vice Chancellor,

4.Prof. Gurmeet Singh, Vice Chancellor, .. Respondents in both WPs Prayer in W.P.No.30566 of 2023: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of declaration declaring the actions of the third respondent in his capacity as in-charge Vice Chancellor consequent upon the expiry of his regular term on 23.11.2022, as illegal as per the communication of the Ministry of Human Resource Department, Department of Higher Education in proceedings F.No.52-4/2019-CU.III dated 6.3.2020 and consequently direct the first respondent to expedite the process of appointment of regular Vice Chancellor to the second respondent University within a reasonable time to be fixed by this Court.

Prayer in W.P.No.31098 of 2023: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of declaration to declare that the process of selections made to the statutory posts after September, 2023 in the second respondent University by the incumbent care-taker Vice Chancellor, the third respondent herein, just one month prior to the expiry of his extended tenure as Vice Chancellor, contrary to the first respondent's directives in proceedings in Letter No.F.No.52-4/2019-CU.III dated 6.3.2020 as illegal.

For the Petitioners in both WPs : Ms.M.N.Sumathy For the Respondents in both WPs : Mr.AR.L.Sundaresan Addl. Solicitor-General assisted by Dr.G.Babu, SPC for respondent No.1 in W.P.No.30566 of 2023 Mr.K.Srinivasa Murthy SPCCG for respondent No.1 in W.P.No.31098 of 2023 : Mr.V.Vasanthakmar Addl. G.P. (Puducherry) for respondents 2 and 3 : Mr.Srinath Sridevan Senior Counsel for Mr.V.Balamurugan for respondent No.4 COMMON ORDER (Order of the court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) Learned counsel for the petitioners seeks leave to withdraw the writ petitions.

2. In fact, under order dated 19.10.2023 passed in W.P.No.30566 of 2023, we had directed the petitioner therein to deposit Rs.1 Lakh so as to test the bona fides and, as such, security cost is imposed upon the petitioner.

3. As on the last date none appeared for the petitioners, we had kept these matters today. Today, a request is made to withdraw the writ petitions.

These writ petitions are dismissed as withdrawn. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, W.M.P.Nos.30195, 30197, 30723 and 30725 of 2023 are closed.

(S.V.G., CJ.) (D.B.C., J.) 12.01.2024 Index :

Yes/No Yes/No sasi

To:

1.The Secretary to Government (Higher Education), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, New Delhi.

2.The Registrar, 3.The Vice Chancellor,

THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY,J.

(sasi) 12.01.2024