Dr. P. Vijayan v. Union of India

ORDER This Writ Petition has been filed praying for direction to the 1st to 3rd Respondents to promote the petitioner as Vice Chancellor or Pro Vice Chancellor on the basis of his deemed continuous service being Director of Indian Maritime University on the basis of representation given by petitioner dated 04.08.2023, 22.07.2025 and 18.09.2025

¶2The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner was appointed as Vice Chancellor of Indian Maritime University for a period of three years in the year 2008. After expiry of the three years tenure, the petitioner was posted as Director of Indian Maritime University. After appointment of the petitioner, he continued to avail same perks and facility that was given to the Vice Chancellor of the Indian Maritime University and in the year 2018, Executive Council passed order punishing the petitioner for disciplinary irregularities. Challenging the said two punishments, the petitioner filed writ petitions before this Court in WP.Nos.12768 of 2018 and 12769 of 2018 and this Court allowed the writ petitions on 01.04.2022, against which the writ appeals were preferred before this Court in WA.Nos.1722 & 1723 of 2022 and the writ appeals were dismissed. However, even thereafter the orders were not implemented by reinstating the petitioner, thereby the petitioner filed contempt petition. However, till date the petitioner has not been reinstated and not granted appointment of Vice Chancellor. Though subsequently, the petitioner retired, however terminal benefits and other notional benefits were not extended to the petitioner, thereby the petitioner submitted representations dated 04.08.2023, 22.07.2025 and 18.09.2025. However, no order has been passed so far. Hence, this writ petition has been filed for the above said prayer.

¶3The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that though very many grounds have been raised in this writ petition, it would suffice, if this Court issues a direction to respondents 1 to 3 to consider and dispose of the petitioner's representations dated 04.08.2023, 22.07.2025 and

18.09.2025, on merits and in accordance with law, within a time frame that may be fixed by this Court.

¶4In view of the limited request sought for by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, this Court, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, directs respondents 1 to 3 to consider the petitioner's representations dated 04.08.2023, 22.07.2025 and 18.09.2025, on merits and in accordance with law and pass appropriate orders, within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, after affording an opportunity of personal hearing to the petitioner.

¶5With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.

18.02.2026 Index :Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order : Yes/No lok To

1.Union of India, Rep. By its Secretary to Government, Department of Shipping Transport Bhavan, No.1, Parliament Street, New Delhi-110 001

2.The Executive Council, Indian Maritime University, East Coast Road, Uthandi,

Chennai-600 119

3.Indian Maritime University Rep. By its Vice Chancellor, East Coast Road, Uthandi,

Chennai-600 119

4.The Convener Search Committee, Indian Maritime University East Coast Road, Uthandi,

Chennai-600 119

M. DHANDAPANI, J. lok

18.02.2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 18.02.2026 CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M. DHANDAPANI Dr.P.Vijayan … Petitioner Vs 1.Union of India, Rep. By its Secretary to Government, Department of Shipping Transport Bhavan, No.1, Parliament Street, New Delhi-110 001 2.The Executive Council, Indian Maritime University, East Coast Road, Uthandi, Chennai-600 119 3.Indian Maritime University Rep. By its Vice Chancellor, East Coast Road, Uthandi, Chennai-600 119 4.The Convener Search Committee, Indian Maritime University East Coast Road, Uthandi, Chennai-600 119 5.Malini Shankar 6.Raju Balaji … Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st to 3rd Respondents to promote the petitioner as Vice Chancellor or Pro Vice Chancellor on the basis of his deemed continuous service being Director of Indian Maritime University on the basis of representation given by petitioner dated 04.08.2023, 22.07.2025 and 18.09.2025 For petitioner : Mr.D.Rajagopal For Respondents For R1 : Mr.S.Janarthanan, SPCGC For R2 & 4 : Mr.K.Srinivasamurthy