Siryakumar K v. The State Of Tamil Nadu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 30.03.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR K.Suryakumar ... Petitioner -vs1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by its Additional Chief Secretary, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The Secretary to Government, Law Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600009.

3.The Registrar, Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, No.5, 'Poompozhil', Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Salai, Chennai - 600028.

4.The University Grants Commission, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110002.

5.The Chairman, Bar Council of India, 21, Rouse Avenue Institutional Area, Near Bal Bhawan, New Delhi - 110002.

... Respondents

PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of mandamus directing the third respondent to immediately discontinue the engagement of unqualified guest faculty at SOEL in violation of UGC and to ensure compliance with UGC Notification No.F. 25-1/2018(PS/MISC) dated 28.01.2019 and ensure the conduct of a minimum of 30 hours of classroom teaching per week and subject allocation to Guest and permanent Faculty at SOEL strictly aligns with their academic specialisation and directing the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th respondents to conduct an independent and time-bound inquiry into the irregularities committed by the third respondent in violation of the UGC Regulations and Guidelines and the Bar Council of India (BCI) Legal Education Rules, 2008 and, if any violations are found, to take appropriate and necessary action against the persons responsible and to strictly implement all applicable UCG and BCI norms.

For Petitioner :

Mr.S.K.D.Rajasekar For Respondents :

Mr.J.Ashok Additional Government Pleader for R1 and R2 Mr.M.Ajmalkhan Senior Counsel for Mr.B.Brijesh Kumar for R3 Mr.V.Maharajan for R4 Mrs.S.Mahalakshmi for R5

O R D E R

[Order of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.] This writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to the third respondent to immediately discontinue the engagement of unqualified guest faculty at SOEL in violation of UGC and to ensure compliance with UGC Notification No.F.25-1/2018(PS/MISC) dated 28.01.2019 and also to ensure the conduct of a minimum of 30 hours of classroom teaching per week and subject allocation to Guest and permanent Faculty at SOEL strictly aligns with their academic specialisation and also a direction to the respondents 1, 2, 4 and 5 to conduct an independent and time-bound inquiry into the irregularities committed by the third respondent in violation of the UGC Regulations and Guidelines and the Bar Council of India (BCI) Legal Education Rules, 2008 and, if any violations are found, to take appropriate and necessary action against the persons responsible and to strictly implement all applicable UCG and BCI norms.

2. The petitioner, who claims to be an alumnus of the School of Excellence in Law (SOEL), has filed petition in the name of public interest.

According to the petitioner, while appointing the Guest Faculty, the University Regulations set out by the University Grants Commission have not been followed and, therefore, the petitioner seeks to discontinue the engagement of the unqualified faculty at the SOEL.

3. On a reading of the entire affidavit filed in support of the writ petition, we do not find any details as to what are the eligibility criteria or whether any ineligible person has been appointed.

4. In the absence of any details, a relief sought for in the present writ petition particularly, in the public interest litigation, is not maintainable. We do not find any merits in the Writ Petition. Accordingly, this writ petition stands dismissed. No costs.

[SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, C.J.] [N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.] 30.03.2026 Index : Yes / No NCC : Yes / No smn2

To:

1.The Additional Chief Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The Secretary to Government, Law Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600009.

3.The Registrar, Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, No.5, 'Poompozhil', Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Salai, Chennai - 600028.

4.The University Grants Commission, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110002.

5.The Chairman, Bar Council of India, 21, Rouse Avenue Institutional Area, Near Bal Bhawan, New Delhi - 110002.

THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE and N.SATHISH KUMAR , J.

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