This Writ Petition has been filed by the petitioner for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to the impugned proceeding issued by second respondent Joint Director, dated 21.02.2017, quash the same and further direct the second respondent / Joint Director of Collegiate Education to approve forthwith the appointment of 37 teaching staff in the petitioner college and disburse the grant-in-aid towards their salary and allowances w.e.f. the respective dates of their appointments.
2.The petitioner in this Writ Petition is a Minority Educational Institution owned and administrated by the Society of St.Franicis Xavier, a body registered under Societies Registration Act (Registration No. 3 of 1920-
21). The case of the petitioner is that out of 95 teaching posts, available in the aided institution, 37 posts fell vacant in the recent years and that the college filled them up all the vacant posts on various days. The particulars of appointees, their qualification, the date of appointment and the vacancy in which the fresh appointments were made as given in the affidavit filed in support of the Writ Petition is extracted below: S.No.
Name Qualification Qualification Date of Appointment Vacancy Details DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY 1 Rev. Dr. L.John Peter Arulanandam, S.J M.Sc, Ph.D.
18.06.2012 F.N.
Retirement of Fr.M. Charles, S.J. Associate Professor on 30.06.2009 2 Dr.T.Leon Stephan Raj M.Sc,Ph.D.
18.06.2012 F.N Retirement of Dr.K. Natarajan, Associate Professor on 31.05.2010 DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY 3 Mr.Y.Jaya Vince Ruban M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D.,SLET 18.06.2012 F.N Retirement of Mr.S. Thirutuva raj, Associate Professor on 31.05.2010 4 Dr.M.Baby Mariyatra M.Sc., Ph.D., NET 01.07.2013 F.N Retirement of Dr.S. Augustin Thomas, Associate Professor on 31.05.2012 5 Dr.C. Christopher M.Sc., M.Phil, Ph.D.
18.06.2014 F.N Retirement of Dr.S.Jesu Antony Diraviam, Associate Professor on 31.05.2014 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 6 Dr.C.Mahimai Arul Ignatius M.Com, M.Phil., M.B.A, Ph.D., 18.06.2012 F.N.
Retirement of Mr.Thomas Puthan veedan, Associate Professor on 31.05.2009 7 Ms.J.Jeya Ani M.Com, M.Phil.,NET 18.06.2012 F.N Retirement of Mr. T.S.A. Bernard Chandra, Associate Professor on 31.05.2011 8 Dr.S.Prince Jebaraj M.Com, M.Phil., Ph.D., NET 21.07.2015 F.N Retirement of Rev.Dr.D. Selva nayagam S.J., Associate Professor on 31.10.2014 DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS 9 Dr. D.Antonysamy M.A., M.Phil., SET 18.06.2015 F.N Retirement of Fr.A.G. Lenonard, S.J. Associate Professor in Economics on 31.10.2006 DEPARTMENT OF ENGLSH 10 Mrs.B.Soundary M.A., M.Phil., SET, NET 20.06.2013 F.N Retirement of Dr.A. Achariyam, Associate Professor on 31.05.2010 11 Mr. Twin Antony Edward M.A., M.Phil., SLET 01.07.2013 F.N Retirement of Dr.A. Calisthus, Associate Professor in English on 31.05.2013 12 Dr.D.Jockim M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.
08.08.2014 F.N Retirement of Dr.V.S. Joseph Albert, Associate Professor on 31.05.2014 13 M.Adeline Udhaya Theresa M.A., NET 16.06.2016 F.N.
Retirement of Dr.V.John, Associate Professor on 31.05.2016.
S.Subadhra M.A., M.Phil., SET 16.06.2016 F.N.
Retirement of Rev.Dr.V. Gilburt Camillus SJ, Associate Professor on 31.05.2016.
DEPARTMENT OF FOLKLORE 15 MR.M.Peter Arockiaraj M.A., NET 18.06.2012 F.N Resignation of Dr.A. Chella perumal, Associate Professor on 27.09.2006 16 Dr.J. Joseph Antony Raj MA., M.Phil., Ph.D.
18.06.2012 F.N Resignation of Dr.T. Dharmaraj, Assistant Professor on 04.02.2011 17 Dr.S. Karmegam M.A., M.Phil, NET 01.07.2015 F.N Retirement of N.Rama chandran Nair Associate Professor on 31.05.2015 DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS 18 Dr.Y.Therese Sunitha Mary M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D.
20.06.2013 F.N Retirement of Fr.A. Antonysamy, S.J., Principal on 06.06.2007 19 Ms.S.Nithya M.Sc., M.Phil., SLET 20.06.2013 F.N Retirement of Mr.Liberty v. Rayan, Associate Professor on 31.05.2008 20 Mr.S.Sujith M.Sc., M.Phil., NET 20.06.2013 F.N Retirement of Mr.S.Mathu Gnaniah, Associate Professor on 30.04.2011 21 Dr.S. Balamurugan M.Sc., M.Phil., NET 01.07.2013 F.N Retirement of Dr.A.P. Santha kumaran, Associate Professor on 31.05.2012 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS 22 Dr.V. Shivashankar M.sc., Ph.D 18.06.2012 F.N Retirement of Mr. I. Sebasdiyar, Associate Professor on 31.05.2012 23 Dr.G.David Rathinavelu M.Sc., Ph.D 18.06.2012 F.N Retirement of Mr.Y.M. Tharsius, Associate Professor on 31.05.2012 24 Dr.B.Helina M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D 01.07.2014 F.N Death of Dr.J. Benet Charles, Associate Professor on 04.05.2014 DEPARATMENT OF TAMIL 25 Mr.S.Ravi Jesu Raj M.A., M.Phil., NET 18.06.2012 F.N Retirement of Mr.N.
Sivasubramanian, Associate Professor on 30.06.2016 26 Dr.V.Rilbert Janarthanan M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.
18.06.2012 F.N Death of Dr. V. Kesavaraj Associate Professor on 31.05.2007 27 Dr.M.Kavitha M.A., Phil., Ph.d., NET 20.06.2013 F.N Retirement of Dr. M. Joseph Irudaya Xavier, Associate Professor on 31.05.2012 28 Mr.R.Antonyraj M.A.,M.Phil., NET 20.06.2013 F.N Retirement of Fr. A. Joseph, S.J., Principal on 31.05.2013 29 Dr.A.Murugan M.A., M.Phil., Ph.,D., NET 16.06.2016 F.N Retirement of A. Mony, Associate Professor on 31.05.2016 DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY 30 Dr. S. Alphonsa M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.
01.09.2015 F.N Retirement of Rev. Dr. M. Alphonse, Associate Professor on 31.05.2016 DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY 31 Mrs. J. Babila Jasmine M.Sc., M.Phil., SET.
18.06.2012 F.N Retirement of Dr. B. Victor, Assciate Professor on 31.03.2008 32 Dr. T. Pushpanathan M.Sc., M.Phil., PhD.
18.06.2012 F.N Retirement of Mr. M.Thomas Punithan, Associate Professor on 30.04.2008 33 Dr. S. Mabel Parimala M.Sc., Ph.D, SLET 18.06.2015 F.N Retirement of T.A. Sethuramalingam, Associate Professor on 31.05.2015 34 Dr. P. Raja M.Sc., PhD.
18.06.2012 F.N Retirement ofDr. M. Narayanan, Associate Professor on 31.05.2010 35 Dr. P. Selvaraj M.Sc., M.Phil., PhD.
18.06.2012 F.N Retirement of Dr. M.A.Haniffa, Associate Professor on 30.04.2008 36 Dr. T. Elizabeth Thangamani Sunitha M.Sc., M.Phil., PhD.
16.06.2016 F.N Retirement of Dr.Dunston P. Ambrose, Associate Professor on 31.05.2012 37 Dr. R. Santha Kumari M.Sc., M.Phil., PhD.
01.08.2016 F.N Retirement of Dr. B. Xavier Innocent, Associate Professor on 31.07.2016
3. It is the specific case of the petitioner that the above said posts were filled up due to the vacancy arose in the sanctioned posts. All the appointments, which are well within the staff strength, fixed by the first respondent / Director of Collegiate Education, by proceedings dated 28.10.1999. It is also the positive case of the petitioner that fully qualified candidates were appointed for the posts and that the University, in which the petitioner college was affiliated, granted qualification approval to all the 37 teaching staff by proceedings dated 28.11.2016. Thereafter, the petitioner has submitted a proposal, dated 06.01.2017, to the second respondent seeking approval for the appointment of all the 37 teaching staff in the petitioner College.
4. It is also the specific case of the petitioner that the petitioner college submitted the proposal along with the necessary and required documents for considering the proposal. Therefore, the posts sanctioned order issued by the Director of Collegiate Education, the relevant particulars of previous incumbants, educational and technical qualification, certificates for all the newly appointed candidates, appointment orders of all the teachers, joining reports and qualification approval granted by the University etc., were annexed with the proposal submitted by the petitioner College before the second respondent. The petitioner has also submitted the agreement under Form-VII.
5. However by the impugned proceedings of the second respondent, the proposal submitted to the second respondent was returned on the ground that the Form-VII and other information regarding submission of Form-VII to the Director of Technical Education is not furnished and that prior permission granted by the Director of Collegiate Education to fill up the vacant posts are not annexed with the proposal. It is this order passed by the second respondent returning the proposal for appointment of 37 teaching staff is challenged in the present Writ Petition.
6. The main contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the order of the second respondent impugned in the Writ Petition is illegal in as much as the second respondent has returned the proposal without an application of mind with regard to the documents furnished by the petitioner along with the proposal. However later, when it was brought to the notice of the second respondent about the Form-VII submitted with reference to all the teaching staffs, the impugned order dated 21.02.2017, was passed by returning the proposal only on the ground of want of prior approval from the Director of Collegiate Education.
7. The learned counsel for the petitioner relied upon the judgment of the Honourable Division Bench of this Court in the case of P.Ravichandran v. State of Tamil Nadu rep. by Secretary to Government, Department of Higher Education, Chennai and others reported in (2013) 7 MLJ
641. The Honourable Division Bench of this Court has categorically held that the provisions of Tamil Nadu Private Colleges (Regulation) Act, 1976 and the rules framed thereunder are complete code and insofar as establishment, administration, sanction of post, appointment of staff, grant-in-aid, withholding of aid etc., and that any circulars or administrative instruction insisting private aided colleges to get prior permission to fill up the vacant posts available in sanctioned posts are in valid. Hence the learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the order of the second respondent returning the proposal is illegal.
7.1.In the above referred judgment rendered by the Honourable Division Bench of this Court, paragraph 20 is extracted hereunder for convenience:
?........20. In the light of the above findings as well as the decisions, we conclude this Judgement in the following manner:
(1) There is no requirement under the TamilNadu Private Colleges (Regulation) Act, 1976 and Tamil Nadu Private Colleges (Regulation) Rules, 1976, to seek prior permission to fill up any vacant post in an aided college, which has already been sanctioned for the academic year by the Director of Collegiate Education under Rule 11(1) of the Rules.
(2) If the appointment made by the College Committee in the sanctioned vacant post is in violation of any of the statutory provision, it is open to the Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education to deny grant-in-aid to the said person appointed in the vacant post.
(3) The teaching staff appointed must be fully qualified, whose qualification is approved by the University to which the college is affiliated. Insofar as the non-teaching staff are concerned, the candidate must possess the qualification prescribed by the Government.
(4) The College Committee while filling up the vacant post, should follow the procedures stated in Rule 11(1A) to 11(4)(ii).
(5) If there is no rival candidate for any post, the appointment is bound to be approved for the purpose of payment of pay and allowances, by the Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education.
The writ appeal is disposed of with the above directions. No costs.?
8.The same judgment of the Honourable Division Bench of this Court was followed by a learned Single Judge of this Court in the case of The Secretary, Holy Cross College v. The State of Tamil Nadu and others in W.P.(MD) No.3315 of 2015, by a judgment dated 10.03.2015, and the relevant portion is extracted as follows :
?...4.The issue involved in this case as to whether such prior approval is necessary for filling up the vacant posts in a private aided college is no more res integra, in view of the fact that the issue has already been considered and decided by the various decisions of this Court holding that no such permission to fill up the vacancy arising out of sanctioned posts is required. The decisions of Division Bench of this Court made in a case of P.Ravichandra -vs-State of Tamil Nadu rep. by Secretary to Government, Department of Higher Education, Chennai and others reported in (2013) 7 MLJ 641 and the earlier decision by the learned Single Judge of this Court (as he then was) in Dr.S.Sukumaran -vs- State of Tamil Nadu rep. by its Secretary, Higher Education, Fort St.George, Chennai and others reported in (2012) 5 MLJ 670 would show that no such permission is required.
5.This Court considered the very same issue in W.P.(MD) NO.3193 of 2015 dated 09.03.2015, and held that such condition seeking prior permission from the Directorate of Collegiate Education is not necessary.
6.Mr.V.Muruganandam, learned Additional Government Pleader, appearing for the respondents 1 to 3 fairy conceded to the said position.
7.Accordingly, by following the above said orders, this Writ Petition is allowed and the impugned order is set aside. Accordingly, the petitioner- college is directed to re-submit their proposal to the third respondent within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. On receipt of such proposal the third respondent shall consider and pass appropriate orders on the same on merits and in accordance with law within a period of eight weeks thereafter. No costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed?.
9. A Honourable Division Bench of this Court in W.A.No.474 of 2013, by judgment dated 03.04.2013, has held as follows:
?.....7. It is relevant to point out that this Court, while delivering the judgment in W.A.No.2345 of 2011, disposed on 05.03.2012, (wherein myself was a member), in respect of one Dr.C.Selvaraj of the very same Management, also observed that once appointment of a person in a sanctioned post is made in accordance with law, no prior permission from the Directorate of Collegiate Education is required and that he is eligible to get salary and accordingly, directed the authorities to approve his appointment. In such view of the matter, we see no reason to take a different view from that of the learned single Judge?....
10. The facts stated in the affidavit are not disputed. In view of the law settled by this Court in the above Judgments and the candidate view expressed by this Court in several individual cases, no prior permission or prior approval is required for filling up the post in private aided colleges, when the post is sanctioned and the vacancy is filled by a qualified person, this Court has no other option except to allow the Writ Petition.
11. This Writ petition is allowed and the impugned order passed by the second respondent dated 21.02.2017, returning the proposal submitted by the petitioner seeking approval for the appointment of the 37 teaching staff in the petitioner college is set aside. The petitioner is directed to submit the proposal afresh within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The second respondent is directed to grant approval to all the teaching staffs appointed by the petitioner college in various departments with effect from the date of appointments as per the applications within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of the fresh proposal from the petitioner and disburse the salary and other allowances as applicable. No Costs. Consequently, the connected W.M.P.(MD) Nos. 3017 and 3016 of 2017 are closed.
To
1.The Director of Collegiate Education, College Road, Chennai - 600 006.
2.The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District.
3.Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Rep. by its Registrar, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli District ? 627 012..