← Library
Madras High CourtWP/201/2026disposed of with direction

N.V.Gowrishankar v. The State Of Tamil Nadu

2026-01-08Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani6 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 08-01-2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI AND WMP NO. 229 OF 2026

1. N.V.Gowrishankar

2. K. Lenin

3. K. Kannan

4. B. Sowmia

5. K. Umasankar

6. M.K.Sudha

7. B. Backialakshmi

8. Edward Raja

9. P. Rengamani

10. N. Vetriselvan

11. S. Subramanian

12. C. Shankar Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai 600 009 2.The Director of School Education College Road, Chennai 600 006

3.The Joint Director of School Education (Higher Secondary) Directorate Of School Education, College Road, Chennai 600 006.

4.The Joint Director of School Education (Vocational) Directorate Of School Education, College Road, Chennai 600 006 Respondent(s) PRAYER; This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondents to pass orders for upgradation of Petitioners to the post of Computer Instructor Grade-I in application of G.O.Ms.No.26 School Education Department dt.12.02.2019 with all consequential and other attendant service benefits, in consideration of representation submitted by the Petitioners dt.07.09.2023, within a time frame to be fixed by this Honble Court and to pass For Petitioner(s):

Mr.G.Sankaran for M/s.S.Nedunchezhiyan For Respondent:

Ms.Mythreye Chandru, SGP

ORDER

This petition has been filed seeking a direction to the Respondents to pass orders for up-gradation of Petitioners to the post of Computer Instructor Grade-I in application of G.O.Ms.No.26 School Education Department dt.12.02.2019 with all consequential and other attendant service benefits, in consideration of representation submitted by the Petitioners dt.07.09.2023, within a time frame to be fixed by this Honble Court.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that the petitioners are Vocational

instructors working in Government Higher Secondary Schools handling XI and XII standards, possessing P.G.degree in computer science with B.E.D. And drawing B.T.Assistant scale of pay. Vocational education was introduced by GO.Ms.No.1719 dated 14.09.1978 and the petitioners appointed in 1996, were subsequently regularised and brought into time scale of pay under GO.Ms.No.74 dated 10.06.2002 and GO.Ms.No.35 dated 09.02.2007 in the B.T.Cadre. Though qualified and discharging duties to P.G.Assistants in Higher Secondary sections, the petitioners remain stagnated in B.T.Cadre gover by Adhoc Rules under GO Ms.No.7 dated 04.01.2000 without any promotional avenue to P.G.Cadre. The Government, by G.O.Ms.No.26 dated 12.02.2019, upgraded computer instructors (B.T.

cadre) initially appointed on contract and later absorbed as computer instructor Grade-I to comply with NCTE norms for XI and XII standards. The said benefit of upgradation has been extended selectively to computer instructors alone, while similarly placed vocational instructors though fully qualified and teaching the same subject at the same level, have been arbitrarily excluded. Such selective implementation results in hostile discrimination, violating equality in service conditions. Hence, the petitioners filed the present writ petition seeks a direction to extend the benefit of upgradation as Computer instructor Grade I to them on part with others.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that this Court may direct the respondents to consider and pass orders on the petitioners

representation in terms of the Government Order in GO.Ms.No.26 dated 12.02.2019 within the stipulated time as fixed by this Court.

4. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submitted that the representation will be considered and orders will be passed within the stipulated time as fixed by this Court if the said Government Order is applicable in the present case on hand.

5. Heard the learned counsel for both side and perused the materials available on record.

6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and in view of the limited request sought for by the petitioner, this court directs the first respondent to consider and pass orders on the petitioner's representation dated 07.09.2023 within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

7. With the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. No costs. 08-01-2026 rli Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order

Internet:Yes To 1.The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai 600 009 2.The Director of School Education College Road, Chennai 600 006 3.The Joint Director of School Education (Higher Secondary) Directorate Of School Education, College Road, Chennai 600 006 4.The Joint Director of School Education (Vocational) Directorate Of School Education, College Road, Chennai 600 006

M.DHANDAPANI J.

rli 08-01-2026