Kingston S v. The District Educational Officer (Elementary)
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 10.11.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.KUMARESH BABU W.P.(MD)No.31863 of 2025 and W.M.P(MD)No.25057 of 2025 S.Kingston
...Petitioner
Vs 1.The District Educational Officer (Elementary), Valliyur, Tirunelveli District.
2.The Block Educational Officer, Valliyur, Tirunelveli District.
3.The Correspondent, TDTA Elementary School, Chettikulam, Tirunelveli District.
... 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 pertaining to order passed by the first respondent in his proceedings in Na.Ka.No.1164/A5/2024 dated 17.06.2025 and consequential order passed by the second respondent in his proceedings in O.Mu.No.971/E1/2025 dated 07.07.2025 and quash the same and 1/5
consequently direct the respondents to approve the promotion of the petitioner as Elementary School Headmaster with effect from 18.08.2023 with all attended benefits.
For Petitioner : Mr.V.Panneer Selvam For Respondents : Mr.N.Satheesh Kumar Additional Government Pleader
O R D E R
This Writ Petition is filed to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records pertaining to order passed by the first respondent in his proceedings in Na.Ka.No.1164/A5/2024 dated 17.06.2025 and consequential order passed by the second respondent in his proceedings in O.Mu.No.971/E1/2025 dated 07.07.2025 and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to approve the promotion of the petitioner as Elementary School Headmaster with effect from 18.08.2023 with all attendant benefits.
2. The issue of requirement of Teachers' Eligibility Test(TET), for even to an appointment, is no longer res integra. The Government had also taken a decision to approve the appointment of teachers not 2/5
possessing TET, if such appointment is made prior to 13.01.2023. The Rules relating to appointment of an Headmaster also do not envisage that the teacher who has already been approved and working in a particular school, when appointed as a Headmaster, the requirement of TET is mandatory. It is not disputed that the petitioner has been promoted as a Headmaster in the minority institution.
3. For the aforesaid reasons, this Writ Petition is allowed and the orders impugned herein are set aside and the respondents are directed to grant approval to the promotion of the petitioner as Elementary School Headmaster with effect from the date of actual date of promotion and grant him all necessary monetary and other attendant benefits. Such exercise shall be carried out within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 10.11.2025 NCC:yes/no Index:yes/no Internet:yes/no Sn 3/5
To:
1.The District Educational Officer (Elementary), Valliyur, Tirunelveli District.
2.The Block Educational Officer, Valliyur, Tirunelveli District.
3.The Correspondent, TDTA Elementary School, Chettikulam, Tirunelveli District.
4/5
K.KUMARESH BABU , J.
Sn 10.11.2025 5/5