Anand K v. The Principal Secretary

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 21.05.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR K.Anand ... Petitioner vs.

1.The Principle Secretary, School Education Department, Secretariat, St. George Fort, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The Director, Directorate of School Education, DPI Campus, Egmore, Chennai - 600 009.

3.The District Collector, Collectorate, Tenkasi - 627 811.

4.The Chief Educational Officer, Madurai Road, Tenkasi-627 009.

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5.The District Educational Officer, Tenkasi.

6.The Head Master, Government Hr. Sec. School, Vellalankulam, Tenkasi - 627 857.

... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1, 2 and 4 to consider the petitioner's representation dated 06.05.2025 on merits within stipulated time to be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Suriya Narayanan For Respondents : Mr.A.Baskaran Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by S.SRIMATHY, J.) By consent of both parties, this Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.

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2. The petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition as a Public Interest Litigation, seeking a direction to respondents 1, 2, and 4 to consider his representation dated 06.05.2025 for introducing English medium classes in the sixth respondent's school.

3. According to the petitioner, the absence of English medium classes has led to a significant decline in student enrollment, from 1200 to around 400 students over the past decade. The school, located in a remote village in Tirunelveli District, is the only educational institution in the area, and most of the students are from agriculturist families. In an effort to increase enrollment and improve access to quality education, the petitioner submitted a representation to the respondents seeking the introduction of English medium classes. Since the representation has not been considered, the petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition.

4. The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submits that the petitioner's representation will be considered and appropriate orders will be passed on its own merits within a time frame to be 3/6

stipulated by this Court.

5. Considering the limited scope of the relief sought by the petitioner and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the petitioner's claim as set out in the representation or in the affidavit filed in support of this Writ Petition, we direct the respondents 1, 2, and 4 to consider the petitioner's representation dated 06.05.2025, after affording sufficient opportunity of personal hearing to the petitioner and other interested parties, if any and ppropriate orders shall be passed on merits and in accordance with law within a period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6. With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.

[S.S.Y.,J.] & [R.V.,J.] 21.05.2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes ps To 4/6

1.The Principle Secretary, School Education Department, Secretariat, St. George Fort, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The Director, Directorate of School Education, DPI Campus, Egmore, Chennai - 600 009.

3.The District Collector, Collectorate, Tenkasi - 627 811.

4.The Chief Educational Officer, Madurai Road, Tenkasi-627 009.

5.The District Educational Officer, Tenkasi.

6.The Head Master, Government Hr. Sec. School, Vellalankulam, Tenkasi - 627 857.

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S.SRIMATHY , J.

and R.VIJAYAKUMAR, J.

ps ORDER MADE IN DATED : 21.05.2025 6/6