The Correspondent v. The Chief Educational Officer
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 03.04.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND and W.M.P(MD)No.6509 of 2025 The Correspondent, St.Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Verkottu, Rameswaram, Ramanathapuram District.
... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Chief Educational Officer, Ramanathapuram District.
2.The District Educational Officer (Secondary), Ramanathapuram District.
... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to approve the promotion of M.Gnana Siluvai as Headmaster of the petitioner school with effect from 21.06.2023 with all consequential monetary benefits. For Petitioner : Mr.V.Panneer Selvam For Respondents : Mr.M.Siddharthan Additional Government Pleader 1/5
O R D E R
This writ petition is filed by the School against the inaction of the respondent in approving the proposal for promotion of M.Gnana Siluvai as Head Master of the petitioner School with effect from 21.06.2023 with all consequential monetary benefits.
2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner School is a minority institution. Thiru.S.Susairathinam, who is the Headmaster of the said School retired from service on 31.03.2023 on attaining the age of superannuation. He was permitted to continue till the end of the academic year on re-employment and he was relieved from service on 31.05.2023. Thereafter, the post of Head Master was fell vacant from 01.06.2023. The petitioner school conducted the selection process to fill up the said post and Thiru.M.Gnana Siluvai was selected and promoted as Head Master on 21.06.2023. The proposal of approval of promotion was forwarded on 12.09.2023 to the first respondent through the second respondent. Thereafter, the second respondent returned the proposal on 08.11.2023 raising certain queries. On compliance of the queries, the proposal was resubmitted for approval to the first respondent through the second respondent. The same was forwarded to the first respondent by the 2/5
second respondent on 02.02.2024. But till date the proposal for approval is pending with the first respondent. Against the inaction of the first respondent in passing orders on the proposal of the School, the present writ petition is filed.
3. The learned Additional Government Pleader for the respondents would submit that the proposal will be considered within two weeks.
4. Considering the submissions of the respective learned counsels, it is clear that the proposal resubmitted by the petitioner is pending with the first respondent till date.
5. In view of the above, in our considered view, it is appropriate and reasonable to dispose of this writ petition at the admission stage with the consent of both parties without going into the merits of the case with a direction to the first respondent to consider and pass appropriate orders on the proposal submitted by the petitioner School within a time to be stipulated herein under to meet the ends of justice.
6. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the first respondent to consider and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law 3/5
on the proposal submitted by the petitioner school for promotion of M.Gnana Siluvai as Head Master of the petitioner School within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs.
Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 03.04.2025 NCC:yes/no Index:yes/no Internet:yes/no Sn To:
1.The Chief Educational Officer, Ramanathapuram District.
2.The District Educational Officer (Secondary), Ramanathapuram District.
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BATTU DEVANAND , J.
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