M.Manickam v. State Of Tamilnadu

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 08-12-2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI M.Manickam S/o K. Mani 29 RS Laxmipuram 1st Cross, Near BSNL Office Oldpet, Krishnagiri 635 001 Petitioner(s) Vs

1. State of Tamilnadu Rep by its Secretary Higher Education Department Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009 2.The Commissioner Directorate of Technical Education No 53, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy Chennai 600 025 3.The Merger Committee Government Engineering College Bargur 635 104, Krishnagiri District 4.The Director Institute of Road Transport, Taramani, Chennai 600 113 5.The Principal Government Polytechnic College Bargur, Krishnagiri District 635 104 6.The Registrar Anna University, Sardal Valabai Patel

Road Guindy, Chennai 600 025 7.The Controller of Examination Anna University Sardal Valabal Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai 600 025 8.KS Rangasamy College of Technology Rep by its Principal KSR Kalvi Nagar, Thiruchengodu, Namakakl District 637 215 9.C.A Seethalakshmi Lecturer, Electrical And Electronics Engineering Department 1251 Government Polytechnic College, Bargur 635 104, Krishnagiri District Respondent(s) PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 6 and 7 to cancel the M.E (PED) full time Postgraduate degree issued to the 9th respondent in Register No.60704415014 studied in 8th respondent college and consequently, directing the 4th and 5th respondents to remove entry about the M.E.(PED) Postgraduate degree from the service Register of the 9th respondent and initiate appropriate disciplinary action as against the 9th respondent within a stipulated period of time as fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner(s):

R.Ezhilarasan For Respondents:

Mr.M.R.Gokulakrishnan, Additional Government Pleader for R1 to R5 R8 & R9 - Notice dispensed with

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed, directing the respondents 6 and 7 to cancel the M.E (PED) full time Postgraduate degree issued to the 9th respondent

in Register No.60704415014 studied in 8th respondent college and consequently, directing the 4th and 5th respondents to remove entry about the M.E.(PED) Postgraduate degree from the service Register of the 9th respondent and initiate appropriate disciplinary action as against the 9th respondent within a stipulated period of time as fixed by this Court.

2.The case of the petitioner is that he is working as a Lecturer in the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department at Government Polytechnic College, Bargur, Krishnagiri. He was appointed as Lecturer on 04.07.2005, and his service was regularised on 05.07.2007. After obtaining permission from the competent authorities, he completed his Master of Engineering degree in 2013. The 9th respondent joined service on 08.07.2005 and completed a full time M.E postgraduate degree in May 2006. On verification, it is found that she studied in a full time 2 year M.E postgraduate degree course for the academic years 2004 to 2006 and obtained the degree in June 2006. Therefore, it is clear that the 9th respondent has obtained a degree fraudulently. Thereafter, the petitioner sent representations dated 23.09.2025, 11.10.2025 and 21.10.2025 to the respondents 2, 4, 5 and 6. However, the same was not considered till date. Hence, the present writ petition has been filed.

3.The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that it is an admitted fact that the 9th respondent joined service on 08.07.2005, but she completed the full-time M.E postgraduate in the month of May 2006. When a person is a permanent employee of the 8th respondent college, she could not have completed the full-time M.E (PED) postgraduate course and examinations in the year 2006. Hence, it is necessary to direct the 6th and 7th respondents to cancel the M.E (PED) full-time postgraduate decree issued to the 9th respondent, who studied in the 8th respondent college, and to direct the 4th and 5th respondents to remove the entry about the M.E (PED) postgraduate degree from the service register of the 9th respondent and initiate appropriate disciplinary action as against the 9th respondent within a stipulated period of time to be fixed by this Court.

4. Since no adverse order has been passed against the respondents 8 and 9, notice to them is dispensed with.

5.The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 to 5 would submit that admittedly, the petitioner joined service on 04.07.2005 and his service was regularised on 05.07.2007. The petitioner claims that the 9th respondent joined service on 08.07.2005 and she completed her full-time postgraduate degree in May 2006. For cancellation of the degree

obtained by the 9th respondent, the petitioner made a representation after a lapse of 19 years. Therefore, the relief sought for by the petitioner is highly belated, and the writ petition is liable to be dismissed with costs on the ground of inordinate delay and laches, as the petitioner has been filed after 19 years seeking cancellation of the degree at the instance of the co-employee who was appointed on 08.07.2005.

6.The facts of the present case are not in dispute. It is an admitted fact that both the petitioner and the 9th respondent are in-service candidates. The petitioner claims that he obtained his M.E postgraduate decree in the year 2013, whereas the 9th respondent obtained her M.E postgraduate degree in the year 2006. The petitioner has filed the present writ petition on the assumption that the 9th respondent being a full-time employee, could not have completed her M.E postgraduate degree through a full-time course. The challenge raised by the petitioner is based on mere assumption and has been made after an inordinate delay of 19 years, which cannot be sustainable in law. In view of the above, this Court finds no merit in the writ petition and the same is liable to be dismissed with costs.

7.Accordingly, the Writ Petition stands dismissed with costs of Rs.5,000/- (Rupees Five thousand only) payable by the petitioner to the Legal Aid Services Authority.

08-12-2025 Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes uma To

1. The Secretary, Higher Education Department Fort St.

George, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009 2.The Commissioner Directorate Of Technical Education No 53, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy Chennai 600 025 3.The Merger Committee Government Engineering College Bargur 635 104 Krishnagiri District 4.The Director Institute Of Road Transport Taramani, Chennai 600 113 5.The Principal Government Polytechnic College Bargur, Krishnagiri District 635 104 6.The Registrar Anna University, Sardal Valabai Patel Road Guindy, Chennai 600 025 7.The Controller of Examination Anna University Sardal Valabal Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai 600 025

M.DHANDAPANI J.

uma 08.12.2025