A.Harsha, v. The Secretary To Government,
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 02.04.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR A.Harsha ... Petitioner vs.
1.The Secretary to Government, Government of Tamilnadu, Higher Education (J2) Department, Secretariat, Fort. St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Secretary to Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Law Department, Secretariat, Fort. St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
3.The Director of Legal Studies, Purasawalkkam High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010.
4.The Dean, The Tamil Nadu Ambedkar Law University, School of Excellence in Law, MGR Salai, Perungudi, Chennai - 600 113.
5.The Tahsildar, Madurai West, Madurai.
... Respondents 1/6
(R2 is suo motu impleaded and R2 to R4 are rearranged as R3 to R5 vide court order dated 05.12.2025 in W.P.(MD).No.30681 of 2025) PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 1 to 3 to reimbursement of tuition fees of Rs.2,10,000/- to the petitioner under the First Generation Graduate Category in the light of letter issued by the 3rd respondent college by its C.No.5060/SOEL - UG/53/2025, dated 23.07.2025, within a time stipulated by this Honble Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.P.Rajagopalan for Mr.S.Sakthi Siddharth For Respondents :Mr.P.T.Thiraviyam for R1 to R3 and R5 Government ADvocate Mr.K.P.Krishnadoss for R4 *****
O R D E R
The petitioner is before this Court seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing respondents 1 to 3 to reimburse a sum of Rs.2,10,000/- towards tuition fees under the First Generation Graduate Category, pursuant to the letter dated 23.07.2025 issued by the third respondent. 2.Learned State Counsel has placed on record the proceedings dated 03.02.2026 issued by the second respondent. A perusal of the said proceedings reveals that proposals for reimbursement of tuition fees to first generation 2/6
graduate students who studied in the School of Excellence in Law, Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, for the academic years 2018-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 were forwarded to the Finance Department for concurrence. Based on the remarks of the Finance Department, the University was directed to obtain Local Fund Audit certificates for the amounts claimed. 3.Pursuant thereto, the Registrar of the said University requested the Deputy Director of Local Fund Audit to scrutinize the claims. The Deputy Director, Local Fund Audit, after verification, has issued approved certificates in respect of reimbursement of tuition fees. Thereafter, the proposals have again been forwarded to the Finance Department for concurrence.
Learned State Counsel submitted that upon receipt of such concurrence, the reimbursement would be effected and sought a period of eight (8) weeks for compliance. The said submission is recorded.4.It is not in dispute that the petitioner is a first generation graduate student who pursued his/her course in the School of Excellence in Law, Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, during the academic period 2019-2024, and is therefore entitled to the benefit of the scheme, subject to fulfillment of the prescribed conditions. 4.
administrative process has substantially progressed and only formal concurrence from the Finance Department remains. 5.Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the second respondent to take necessary steps to secure concurrence from the Finance Department, if not already obtained, and thereafter reimburse the tuition fees of Rs.2,10,000/- to the petitioner under the First Generation Graduate Category.
6.The above exercise shall be completed within a period of eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Index :Yes / No 02.04.2026 Internet :Yes / No NCC :Yes / No TM To 1.The Secretary to Government, Government of Tamilnadu, Higher Education (J2) Department, Secretariat, Fort. St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Secretary to Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Law Department, Secretariat, Fort. St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
3.The Director of Legal Studies, Purasawalkkam High Road, 4/6
Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010.
4.The Dean, The Tamil Nadu Ambedkar Law University, School of Excellence in Law, MGR Salai, Perungudi, Chennai - 600 113.
5.The Tahsildar, Madurai West, Madurai.
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HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR, J.
TM 02.04.2026 6/6