The Director Of Collegiate Education v. M. Murugan

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 10.04.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN and CMP(MD)No.4826 of 2026

1. The Director of Collegiate Education, Directorate of Collegiate Education, Institute of Advance Study in Education Campus, 577, Anna Salai, Saidapet, Chennai 15.

2. The Joint Director of Regional Collegiate Education, Race Horse Road, Khajamalai, Trichy 23.

3. The Principal, Government Arts College Thuvakudimalai, Tiruchirappalli 22.

4. The Principal, Thanthai Periyar Govt Arts Science College (Autonomous), Kajamalai, Tiruchirappalli 23.

... Appellants Vs.

1. M.Murugan 1/6

2. The Additional Chief Secretary cum Commissioner of Revenue Administration, Commissionerate of Revenue Administration And Disaster Management, Chepauk, Chennai 600005.

3. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Kulithalai, Karur.

... Respondents PRAYER :- Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent, against the order made in W.P(MD)No.19125 of 2025 dated 28.08.2025. For Appellants : Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader For R1 : Mr.T.Pradeep for M/s.B.Saravanan Associates

JUDGMENT

(Judgment of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) Challenging the order of the learned Single Judge in setting aside the order dated 03.03.2025 of the 1st appellant who rejected to modify the date of birth of the 1st respondent/writ petitioner in his service record, this writ appeal is filed.

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2.

The 1st respondent was appointed as Assistant Professor(Physics) in the 3rd appellant college on 26.12.2007 and on 02.12.2024, he was transferred to the 4th appellant college as Associate Professor and as on date, he is working in the said capacity. The 1st respondent claims that his original date of birth is 16.03.1968 and by mistake, it has been mentioned as 30.05.1966 in all his educational records and his service register also. The 1st respondent obtained birth certificate from the competent authority and made a representation to the 3rd appellant to change his date of birth in his service register. The 3rd appellant returned the said representation to re-submit it along with Government Gazette publication for change of date of birth. The 1st respondent also filed a suit in O.S.No.

228 of 2012 on the file of the I Additional District Munsif, Tiruchirappalli, to declare his date of birth as 16.03.1968. By judgment dated 20.12.2012, the said suit was decreed. Thereafter, the writ petitioner made representations seeking to change his date of birth. Ultimately, the impugned rejection order dated 03.03.

and while completing 10th Standard, he ought to have been completed 15 years of age, whereas, the 1st respondent had completed only 14 years and 11 months and 15 days. Therefore, it was not recommended for change of date of birth of the 1st respondent. 3.

The Writ Court called for the original Birth Register of the year 1968 and found that the 1st respondent's date of birth is mentioned as 16.03.1968. The Writ Court finding that the claim of the writ petitioner for change of his date of birth is genuine and after satisfying itself as to the genuineness of the writ petitioner's date of birth, set aside the order dated 03.03.2025 and allowed the writ petition, holding that the writ petitioner is entitled for alteration of his date of birth as 16.03.1968. It is relevant to note that once the birth certificate is found to be genuine and registered, there shall be presumption attaching to genuineness. Therefore, it cannot be said that the 1st respondent's date of birth is incorrect. It is further to be noted that the application for change of date of birth also has been given by the 1st respondent within five years from the date of appointment. Though the school records of the 1st respondent contain wrong date of birth, for that, the 1st respondent cannot be found 4/6

fault with, whereas, his parents could be faulted for not having given correct date of birth of the 1st respondent.

4.

Thus, we do not find any error in the impugned order passed by the learned Judge. We direct the appellants to make alteration of date of birth of the 1st respondent as 16.03.1968 in his service record on the basis of his birth certificate. Such an exercise shall be completed on or before 31.05.2026.

5.

The Writ Appeal is accordingly dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. [N.S.K., J.] & [M.J.R., J.] 10.04.2026 Index : Yes / No : Ye / No bala To

1. The Director of Collegiate Education, Directorate of Collegiate Education, Institute of Advance Study in Education Campus, 5/6

N.SATHISH KUMAR , J.

AND M.JOTHIRAMAN, J.

bala 577, Anna Salai, Saidapet, Chennai 15.

2. The Joint Director of Regional Collegiate Education, Race Horse Road, Khajamalai, Trichy 23.

3. The Principal, Government Arts College Thuvakudimalai, Tiruchirappalli 22.

4. The Principal, Thanthai Periyar Govt Arts Science College (Autonomous), Kajamalai, Tiruchirappalli 23.

ORDER MADE IN DATED 10.04.2026 6/6