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Madras High CourtWP(MD)/457/2026dismissed

Siyamaladevi v. The Principal Secretary

2026-01-08Honourable Mr Justice B.Pugalendhi6 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 08.01.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI WP(MD)No.457 of 2026 and WMP(MD)Nos.426 and 427 of 2026 Siyamaladevi ... Petitioner Vs

1. The Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 9.

2. The Commissioner, Directorate of Collegiate Education, Saidapet, Chennai - 600 015.

3. The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Office of the Joint Director of Collegiate Education, No.268, Palam Station Road, Sellur, Madurai - 625 002.

4. The Principal, Government Arts and Science College, Reddiyarchathiram, Dindigul District - 624 001.

... Respondents Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for 1/6

the records pertaining to the impugned order of the 2nd respondent in RC.No.TNDCE/3237/2025-D4 dated 07.05.2025, quash the same as illegal and reinstate the petitioner for the post of Associate Professor in Arts and Science College, Reddiyar Chathiram, Dindigul. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Nedumaran For Respondents : Mr.M.Sarangan, Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

The petitioner is working as Associate Professor in Government Arts and Science College, Reddiyarchathiram, Dindigul District. While so, she has been placed under suspension, vide order dated 07.05.2025. Challenging the order of suspension, the petitioner has filed this writ petition on the ground that based on a paper publication, she has been suspended and a disciplinary proceedings has been initiated against her.

2. Mr.M.Sarangan, learned Additional Government Pleader, takes notice for the respondents and submits that it is not based on the paper publication. In fact, a criminal case has been registered against the petitioner for job racketing, in Crime No.17 of 2025 on the file of the District Crime Branch, Dindigul, for which, she was arrested and she was in jail for 30 days. Therefore, she has been suspended and a disciplinary 2/6

proceedings has been contemplated. He further submits that a charge memo under Rule 17-B of the Tamil Nadu Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, was issued as against the petitioner on 18.06.2025 and enquiry proceedings has also been contemplated. After concluding the enquiry proceedings, the enquiry report has been forwarded to the disciplinary authority on 31.12.2025.

3. This Court considered the rival submissions made.

4. The order of suspension dated 07.05.2025 is under challenge in this writ petition. It is reported that the enquiry proceedings initiated as against the petitioner was over and the enquiry report has also been forwarded to the disciplinary authority as early as on 31.12.2025.

5. The Government has already issued a compendium of instructions, by fixing a time limit for finalizing the disciplinary proceedings, vide GO.Ms.No.81 Human Resources Management (N) Department, dated 04.08.2022. In the said G.O., the Government has fixed a time limit of 10 days for the disciplinary authority to take a 3/6

decision after the receipt of enquiry officer's report.

6. Since it is reported that the enquiry proceedings has been completed and the enquiry report has also been forwarded to the disciplinary authority on 31.12.2025, the disciplinary authority is expected to take a call on the enquiry report, as per GO.Ms.No.81 Human Resources Management (N) Department, dated 04.08.2022, on or before 13.01.2026.

7. In view of the same, this Court is not inclined to entertain this writ petition. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. However, there shall be a direction to the disciplinary authority, namely, the 2nd respondent herein, to conclude the disciplinary proceedings on or before 30.01.2026. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

08.01.2026 ogy Index : Yes / No.

Internet : Yes / No.

NCC : Yes / No.

To 4/6

1. The Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 9.

2. The Commissioner, Directorate of Collegiate Education, Saidapet, Chennai - 600 015.

3. The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Office of the Joint Director of Collegiate Education, No.268, Palam Station Road, Sellur, Madurai - 625 002.

4. The Principal, Government Arts and Science College, Reddiyarchathiram, Dindigul District - 624 001.

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B.PUGALENDHI, J.

ogy WP(MD) No.457 of 2026 08.01.2026 6/6