S.Chenniappan v. C.Jothi Venkateswaran

O R D E R (Order of the Court was made by S.M.Subramaniam J.) The Contempt Petitions have been instituted to punish the respondents for their wilful disobedience of the orders of this Court dated 13.02.2020 in W.A.Nos.1216 to 1218 of 2016.

¶2The Special Leave Petition preferred against the Writ Appeal order came to be dismissed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India vide order dated

14.02.2025.

¶3The respective learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the Writ Appeal orders have not been implemented by extending UGC scale of pay to the petitioners.

¶4Per contra, the learned counsel for the College Management would oppose by stating that the Division Bench of this Court directed the College Management to take a decision if the teaching staffs possess requisite qualification as per the UGC Regulations. In this regard the College Management has considered the educational qualifications possessed by the teaching staffs and passed an order, which was communicated on 21st January 2022. A reading of the said proceedings would show that the petitioners / lecturers are receiving UGC scale of pay from the date of their appointment till May 2003. The petitioners have not secured the requisite Page No.6 of 8 qualification of M.Phil., / Ph.d., Therefore, their pay were reduced as per the UGC Regulations. Accordingly, the College Management passed an order stating that the petitioners does not possess the requisite qualification as required under UGC Regulations and therefore, they are not eligible for UGC scale of pay under Career Advancement Scheme (CAS).

¶5When the College Management has passed an order holding that the petitioners/ lecturers did not possess required educational qualifications, it is for the petitioners to defend the same in the manner known to law. The directions issued by the Division Bench is to take a decision, if the petitioners are otherwise qualified and possess requisite qualification as per the UGC Regulations.

¶6This being the scope of the order, this Court do not find any wilful disobedience of the order of this Court warranting exercise of contempt jurisdiction. It is for the petitioners to workout their remedy in the manner known to law, if they are otherwise qualified under the UGC Regulations.

¶7Mr.T.M.Hariharan, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners would submit that the contention of the College Management is erroneous, since in paragraph No.9 of the Division Bench order there is an observation that the lecturers are eligible for UGC scale of pay. Page No.7 of 8

¶8However, it is for the petitioners to establish the same with reference to the educational qualifications they possess, which must be in consonance with the UGC Regulations.

¶9With these observations this Contempt Petition stands closed. Consequently, the connected sub-applications are also closed. (S.M.S.,J.) (C.K.,J.) 10-02-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DSA Page No.8 of 8 S.M.SUBRAMANIAM J. AND C.KUMARAPPAN J. DSA CONT.P.Nos. 732, 733, 734 & 1152 of 2021 10-02-2026

2026:MHC:579 Page No.1 of 8 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 10-02-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN CONT.P.Nos. 732, 733, 734 & 1152 of 2021 AND SUB APPL Nos. 350 to 353 of 2022 CONT P No. 733 of 2021: S.Chenniappan ..Petitioner Vs 1. C.Jothi Venkateswaran The Director of Collegiate Education, College Road, Chennai - 600 006. 2. Dr.K.Murugan Registrar, The Bharathiar University, Coimbatore - 641 046. 3. Rev.Dr.D.Chandrasekaran Bishop and Chairman, Bishop Thorp College, Dharmapuram, Tirupur District. ..Contemnor(s) CONT P No. 733 of 2021: D.Ubendhiran ..Petitioner Vs Page No.2 of 8 1. C.Jothi Venkateswaran The Director of Collegiate Education, College Road, Chennai - 600 006. 2. Dr.V.Kalaiselvi Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Race Course Road, Coimbatore - 18. 3. Dr.K.Murugan, Registrar, The Bharthiar University, Coimbatore - 46. 4. Rev.Dr.D.Chandrasekaran The Secretary, Bishop Thorp College, Diocesan Ofdice, Puthur, Trichy - 17 ..Respondent(s) CONT P No. 734 of 2021: S.Vasudevan ..Petitioner Vs 1. Dr.C.Jothi Venkateswaran The Director of Collegiate Education, College Road, Chennai - 600 006. 2. Dr.V.Kalaiselvi Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Race Course Road, Coimbatore - 18. 3. Dr.K.Murugan, Registrar, The Bharthiar University, Coimbatore - 46 4. Rev.Dr.D.Chandrasekaran The Secretary, Bishop Thorp College, Diocesan Ofdice, Puthur, Trichy - 17 ..Respondent(s) Page No.3 of 8 CONT P No. 1152 of 2021: 1. K.Selvarajan 2. V. Annathurai ..Petitioners Vs RT. Rev. Dr.D.Chandrasekaran The Secretary, Bishop Thorp College, Dharapuram 638 657. ..Respondent(s) CONT P No. 732 of 2021 Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, praying to issue notice to respondents and punish them for disobeying the common order dated 13.02.2020 passed in W.A.Nos.1216 to 1218 of 2016 confirming the common order dated 30.04.2015, passed in W.P.No.29772 and 10366 of 2004 and 8989 of 2011. CONT P No. 733 of 2021 Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, praying to issue notice to respondents and punish them for disobeying the common order dated 13.02.2020 passed in W.A.No.1216 of 2016 confirming the common order dated 30.04.2015, passed in W.P.No.10366 of 2004. CONT P No. 734 of 2021 Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, praying to issue notice to respondents and punish them for disobeying the common order dated 13.02.2020 passed in W.A.No.1218 of 2016 confirming the common order dated 30.04.2015, passed in W.P.No.8989 of 2011. Page No.4 of 8 CONT P No. 1152 of 2021 Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, praying to issue notice to the respondent and to punish the respondent for the deliberate violation of the orders of this Court dated 13.02.2020 in W.A.No.1216 of 2016. CONT P No. 732 to 734 of 2021 For Petitioner(s): Mr.P.Premkumar For Contemnor(s): Mr.Vadivelu Deenadayalan, Addl. Govt. Pleader for R1 Mr.I.Calvin Jones for M/s.Ajmal Associates for R2 Mr.P.Godson Swaminathan, for Ms.H.Mary Sowmi Rexy for M/s.Isaac Chambers for R3 CONT P No. 1152 of 2021 For Petitioner(s): Mr.T.M.Hariharan For Contemnor(s): Mr.P.Godson Swaminathan, for Ms.H.Mary Sowmi Rexy for M/s.Isaac Chambers for R3 ******* Page No.5 of 8