Sivaranjani v. The Secretary To The Government
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 11.12.2025
CORAM:
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR W.P.(MD).No.31351 of 2025 and W.M.P(MD)Nos.24545 to 24547 of 2025 Sivaranjani ... Petitioner Vs.
1. The Secretary to the Government, Department of Higher Education, Secretariat, Fort St George, Chennai 600 009.
2. The Director of Collegiate Education, 9th Floor, EVK Sampath Buildings College Road, Chennai 600 006.
3. The Secretary, The University Grants Commission, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002.
4. The Vice-Chancellor, Mother Teresa Women's University, Kodaikanal - 624 101.,
5. The Registrar, Mother Teresa Women's University, Kodaikanal - 624 101, Dindigul District.
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6. The Dean-Research, Mother Teresa Women's University, Kodaikanal - 624 101, Dindigul District.
7. C. Jeyabharathi, Computer Instructor Grade - I, Government Higher Secondary School, Thaliyuthu, Dindigul District.
8. S. Vimala, Professor and Head, Department of Computer Science Mother Teresa Women's University, Kodaikanal - 624 101.
... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the Impugned Order in Lr.No.PHDCS19P628/WU/Dean/2025 dated 17.06.2025 on the file of the Respondent No.6 and to quash the same as illegal and consequentially for a direction, directing the Respondent Nos. 4 and 6 to permit the Petitioner to continue and complete her doctoral research under the supervision of her original supervisor the Respondent No.7, and a co-supervisor. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Mahaboob Fazil M/s.Roy and Roy Associates For R1 and R2 : Mr.N.Satheesh Kumar Additional Government Pleader For R3, R6 & R8 : Awake Notice For R4 & R5 : Mr.N.Shanmugaselvan For R7 : No Appearance 2/8
ORDER
The present writ petition has been filed seeking to challenge the order passed by the 6th respondent on 17.06.2025, wherein a new research supervisor was appointed to the writ petitioner.
2. The writ petitioner has registered herself for Ph.D (Part-Time) in Computer Science on 21.09.2019 at the 5th respondent university. At the time of the registration, the 7th respondent was allotted as her research supervisor. In the year 2021, the 7th respondent got relieved from the post of Assistant Supervisor & Head, PG Department of Computer Science, Arulmigu Palaniandavar Arts College for Women, Palani and she got appointed as a Computer Instructor Grade - I, Government Higher Secondary School, Thalaiyuthu.
3. At that point of time, the respondent university issued a communication on 19.03.2021, giving an option to the writ petitioner either to retain the 7th respondent as the research supervisor or to continue with the some other supervisor. The petitioner herein continued with the 7th respondent as her research supervisor. On 09.03.2023, the 8th 3/8
respondent was appointed as a co-guide for the writ petitioner along with the 7th respondent.
4. The communication dated 09.03.2023 has not been challenged by the writ petitioner. The present impugned order has been passed on 17.06.2025 removing the 7th respondent from the post of research supervisor and appointing the 8th respondent as a research supervisor. This order is put to challenge in the present writ petition.
5. According to the learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner, since option was given to the writ petitioner in the year 2021, she had continued to pursue her mentorship with the 7th respondent as her research supervisor. Suddenly, in the year 2025, the 7th respondent was recalled from the post of research supervisor and the 8th respondent has been appointed and this would affect her continuation of the Ph.D course.
6. She further apprehended that the reports that she would have submitted to the 7th respondent between 2021- 2025 are not likely to take into account by the respondent university.
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7. Per contra, the learned counsel appearing for the respondent university, relying upon the regulations, submitted that in case if the research supervisor demits office or gets transferred, the research supervisor has to submit all the records to the university. Thereafter, in turn the university would submit all the records to the new supervisor under whom the candidate has to continue their research.
8. In such circumstances, appointment of the 8th respondent as research supervisor would not in any way affect the research of the writ petitioner in pursuing her Ph.d.
9. He further submits that so far thesis has not been submitted by the writ petitioner. He further submits that since the 7th respondent has resigned from the post of Assistant Professor and joined as a Computer Instructor Grade - I, Government Higher Secondary School, Thalaiyuthu, a school teacher cannot be continued as research supervisor for Ph.d.
10. Heard the learned counsel on either side. 5/8
11. As far as the case of the writ petitioner is concerned, the 8th respondent therein is a co-guide for the petitioner from the year 2023 onwards. Therefore, the appointment of the 8th respondent as the sole guide under the impugned order from the year 2025 will not in any way affect her academic career.
12. The reports that were submitted by the writ petitioner to this 7th respondent between 2021 to 2025 shall be submitted by the 7th respondent to the 8th respondent. Based upon the said report, the 8th respondent shall continue to guide the writ petitioner.
13. With the said clarification, the writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 11.12.2025 NCC :yes/No Index :yes/No Internet:yes/No rgm 6/8
To
1. The Secretary to the Government, Department of Higher Education, Secretariat, Fort St George, Chennai 600 009.
2. The Director of Collegiate Education, 9th Floor, EVK Sampath Buildings College Road, Chennai 600 006.
3. The Secretary, The University Grants Commission, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002.
4. The Vice-Chancellor, Mother Teresa Women's University, Kodaikanal - 624 101.
5. The Registrar, Mother Teresa Women's University, Kodaikanal - 624 101, Dindigul District.
6. The Dean-Research, Mother Teresa Women's University, Kodaikanal - 624 101, Dindigul District.
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R.VIJAYAKUMAR , J.
rgm W.P.(MD).No.31351 of 2025 and W.M.P(MD)Nos.24545 to 24547 of 2025 11.12.2025 8/8