Renuga Devi.R v. The Chief Educational Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 28.01.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR WP(MD) No. 22265 of 2022 and WMP(MD).Nos.16441 & 16443 of 2022 R.Renuga Devi

...Petitioner

Vs 1.The Chief Educational Officer Chief Educational Office Dindigul Dindigul District 2.The District Educational Officer District Educational Office Palani Dindigul District 3.The District Elementary Educational Officer District Elementary Educational Office Dindigul, Dindigul District 4.The Assistant Elementary Educational Officer Assistant Elementary Educational Office Ottanchathiram Dindigul District 5.Thangaraj ....Respondents Prayer:Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the proceedings made in Na.Ka.No.3922/A2/2022 dated 1/6

18.08.2022 on the file of the second respondent, quash the same, and further direct 1 and 2 respondents herein to grant school committee approval of petitioner's school namely Hindu Aided Middle School, Kodengipatti Village, Ottanchathiram Taluk, Dindigul District on the basis of order made in WP(MD).No.2597 of 2012 on the file of this Court dated 02.04.2012 within a stipulated period as may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner :Mr.R.Sundar For Respondents :Mr.P.T.Thiraviyam Government Advocate for R1 to R4 :Mr.S.Karthik for R5

O R D E R

The present writ petition has been filed seeking to quash the order passed by the second respondent herein on 18.08.2022 wherein an order of direct payment has been imposed on the petitioner School primarily on the ground that the School Committee has not reconstituted. 2.In the year 2012, there was a dispute among the educational agency and due to the said dispute, direct payment order was passed. Later, the dispute among the educational agency was resolved and the direct payment was set aside by this Court in WP(MD).No.4719 of 2012 dated 07.02.2019. 3.Due to the dispute in the educational agency and the order of direct payment, the School Committee was not revived after the orders of the writ 2/6

Court. The petitioner has sent a representation to the authorities on 25.06.2022 requesting them to approve the School Committee that was prevailing in the year 2007. Without acceding to the said request, the present impugned order has been passed imposing direct payment for the second time. This order is under challenge in the present writ petition. 4.According to the learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner, a representation has been addressed to the authorities on 25.06.2022 to revive and approve the School Committee that was prevailing in the year 2011. 5.The learned Government Advocate appearing for the official respondents submits that the School Committee would be valid only for a period of three years. That apart, the members of the School Committee are likely to get extension, depending upon the facts and circumstances of the case. Therefore, unless a fresh proposal is forwarded by the educational agency, approval for the School Committee cannot be granted. 6.I have considered the submissions made on either side and perused the material records.

7.As rightly pointed out by the learned Government Advocate, the proposal for the new School Committee has to be forwarded by the writ petitioner to the concerned authorities indicating the members of the present School Committee. Only then the authority would be in a position to take a decision. The question of reviving the School Committee that was prevailing 3/6

in the year 2011 does not arise.

8.In view of the above said facts, the petitioner educational agency is directed to convene a meeting and forward the proposal to the authorities concerned regarding constitution of the School Committee. As and when the proposal is received, the respondent authorities are directed to consider the same and pass orders within a period of four weeks thereafter. Depending upon the approval granted to the School Committee, the order of imposing direct payment may be revoked.

9.With the above said observations, this writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 28.01.2026 Internet : Yes/No Index : Yes/No NCC : Yes/No msa To 1.The Chief Educational Officer 4/6

Chief Educational Office Dindigul Dindigul District 2.The District Educational Officer District Educational Office Palani Dindigul District 3.The District Elementary Educational Officer District Elementary Educational Office Dindigul, Dindigul District 4.The Assistant Elementary Educational Officer Assistant Elementary Educational Office Ottanchathiram Dindigul District 5.The Section Officer V.R.Section Madurai Bench of Madras High Court Madurai R.VIJAYAKUMAR, J.

msa 5/6

WP(MD) No. 22265 of 2022 and WMP(MD).Nos.16441 & 16443 of 2022 28.01.2026 6/6