P.Ibrahim v. The Joint Director of Collegiate Education

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 13.07.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.5736, 5737, 5738, 5742, 5752 & 5743 of 2026

P.Ibrahim ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD)No.6954/2026 M.Abubacker Siddique ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD)No.6955/2026 K.Abdul Rahim ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD)No.6956/2026 T.C.Mohamed Muneeb ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD)No.6957/2026 M.Rashith Muhammad ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD)No.6958/2026 M.Marimuthu ... Petitioner in W.P.(MD)No.6959/2026 vs.

1.The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Madurai Region, Palam Station Road, Madurai - 625002, Madurai District.

2.The Secretary, Dr.Zakir Husain College, Ilayangudi - 630 702, Sivagangai District.

3.The Principal, Dr.Zakir Husain College, Ilayangudi - 630 702, Sivagangai District.

4.V.M.Jafarulla Khan, Secretary, Dr.Zakir Husain College, Ilayangudi - 630 702, Sivagangai District.

5.S.E.A.Jabarullah Khan, Principal-incharge, Dr.Zakir Husain College, Ilayangudi - 630 702, Sivagangai District. ... Respondents in all Writ Petitions Prayer in W.P.(MD) No.6954 of 2026 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned order issued by the second respondent herein in Proceedings No.5024/2025 dated

16.07.2025 and the subsequent order issued by the second respondent herein in Proceedings No.5084/2025 dated 25.02.2026, quash the same and further direct the respondents herein to sanction and disburse annual increments payable to the petitioner herein from July 2025 onwards with appropriate interest. Prayer in W.P.(MD) No.6955 of 2026 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned order issued by the second respondent herein in Proceedings No.5086/2025 dated

25.02.2026, quash the same and further direct the respondents herein to sanction and disburse annual increments payable to the petitioner herein from July 2025 onwards with appropriate interest. Prayer in W.P.(MD) No.6956 of 2026 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned order issued by the second respondent herein in Proceedings No.5085/2025 dated

25.02.2026, quash the same and further direct the respondents herein to sanction and disburse annual increments payable to the petitioner herein from July 2025 onwards with appropriate interest. Prayer in W.P.(MD) No.6957 of 2026 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned order issued by the second respondent herein in Proceedings No.5094/2025 dated

16.10.2025, quash the same and further direct the respondents herein to sanction and disburse annual increments payable to the petitioner herein from October 2025 onwards with appropriate interest. Prayer in W.P.(MD) No.6958 of 2026 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned order issued by the second respondent herein in Proceedings No.5025/2025 dated

16.07.2025, quash the same and further direct the respondents herein to sanction and disburse annual increments payable to the petitioner herein from July 2025 onwards with appropriate interest. Prayer in W.P.(MD) No.6959 of 2026 : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned order issued by the second respondent herein in Proceedings No.5026/2025 dated

16.07.2025, quash the same and further direct the respondents herein to sanction and disburse annual increments payable to the petitioner herein from July 2025 onwards with appropriate interest. For Petitioner in all W.Ps. : Mr.E.V.N.Siva For R1 in all W.Ps. : Mrs.K.Porkodi Government Pleader For R-2 to R-5 in all W.P.s. : Mr.N.Dilip Kumar For Mr.E.Martin Jayakumar ***** C O M M O N O R D E R Heard Mr.E.V.N.Siva, learned Counsel for the Petitioner, Mrs.K.Porkodi, learned Government Pleader, who takes notice for the 1st Respondent and Mr.N.Dilip Kumar, learned Counsel for Mr.E.Martin Jayakumar, who takes notice for Respondents 2 to 5.

¶2In all these batch Writ Petitions, the respective petitioners have challenged the orders passed by the 2nd respondent imposing the punishment of stoppage of increments, or the proceedings whereby the punishment of stoppage of increments was proposed on the petitioners.

¶3Challenge to the impugned proceedings is mainly on the ground that the respondents have not followed the procedure required to be followed, i.e., by issuing a charge memo, calling for an explanation, conducting an enquiry, etc. Instead, the entire proceedings have been short-circuited by issuing a show cause notice and thereafter passing orders imposing the punishments.

¶4This Court, while entertaining the Writ Petitions and taking note of the cryptic nature of the enquiry proceedings, granted an order of interim stay vide order dated 13.03.2026. The said interim stay has been extended from time to time and continues to be in force as on date.

¶5The 2nd respondent filed counter affidavit on behalf of Respondents 2 and 3 and the 1st Respondent also filed counter affidavit.

¶6When the matter is taken up for consideration, Mr.N.Dilip Kumar, learned counsel appearing for Respondents 2 to 5, fairly submits that there is a procedural flaw in the entire proceedings initiated against the petitioners and that the procedure required to be followed, such as issuing a charge memo, calling for an explanation, conducting an enquiry, etc., has not been followed. He therefore submits that the respondents may be afforded an opportunity to redo the entire exercise.

¶7Learned counsel for the petitioners acceded to the submissions made by Mr.N.Dilip Kumar.

¶8In the light of the above, the impugned proceedings in the respective Writ Petitions are liable to be quashed for want of compliance with the principles of natural justice, and accordingly, all the respective impugned proceedings in this batch of Writ Petitions are hereby quashed, granting liberty to Respondents 2 and 3 to redo the entire exercise strictly in accordance with law.

¶9Accordingly, the Writ Petitions are disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

13.07.2026 Index :Yes / No Internet :Yes / No NCC :Yes / No Nsr To:

1.The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Madurai Region, Palam Station Road, Madurai - 625002, Madurai District.

2.The Secretary, Dr.Zakir Husain College, Ilayangudi - 630 702, Sivagangai District.

3.The Principal, Dr.Zakir Husain College, Ilayangudi - 630 702, Sivagangai District.

4.V.M.Jafarulla Khan, Secretary, Dr.Zakir Husain College, Ilayangudi - 630 702, Sivagangai District.

5.S.E.A.Jabarullah Khan, Principal-incharge, Dr.Zakir Husain College, Ilayangudi - 630 702, Sivagangai District. W.P.(MD)Nos.6954otoo6959oofo2026 ooMUMMINENIoSUDHEERoKUMARoo,oJ.o Nsr Orderomadeoin W.P.(MD)Nos.6954otoo6959oofo2026

13.07.2026