Ravindranathan v. Joint Director of Elementary Education,

ORDER The present Writ Petition has been filed challenging the impugned order dated 03.06.2026 passed by the second respondent and consequently seeking a direction to the official respondents to recognize the petitioner as the Secretary of the School Management and, consequently, permit the renewal of the School's Recognition Certificate.

2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been serving as the Secretary of the Government Aided Hindu Adi-Dravidar Primary School, Thottampatti, situated in Kayathar Taluk, Thoothukudi District, for more than 30 years. The School is duly registered under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act. It is further submitted that the petitioner had taken substantial efforts to develop the School by constructing additional classrooms for the benefit of the students. The land on which the School is situated was also donated to the Government in the name of the School under a registered deed dated

15.04.2025. Out of the two sanctioned teaching posts, one Headmistress, namely, Kangavalli, is presently working, while the other post remains vacant.

3.The learned counsel further submitted that, subsequently, disputes arose between the petitioner and his family members. The petitioner's brother, Elangovan, and one Vivekanandan had earlier executed consent letters stating that they would not claim any position in the School Committee in future. However, contrary to the said undertaking, the fourth respondent, namely, Elangovan, has instituted O.S.No.51 of 2026 on the file of the District Munsif Court, Kovilpatti, seeking a mandatory injunction directing the defendants therein to appoint him as the Secretary of the School and to hand over the Educational Agency in his favour. Pending disposal of the said suit, the petitioner submitted an application before the educational authorities seeking approval and renewal of his appointment as Secretary. However, the same came to be rejected by the impugned order dated 03.06.2026. Challenging the said order, the petitioner preferred a statutory appeal before the first respondent on 12.06.2026. Since the said appeal has not yet been disposed of, the petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition.

4.The learned counsel for the petitioner further submitted that, in the absence of any interim order passed by the Civil Court in O.S.No.51 of 2026, there is no legal impediment for the official respondents to recognize the petitioner as the Secretary of the School. The rejection of the petitioner's request solely on the ground of pendency of the civil suit is unsustainable in law. Hence, he prayed for appropriate orders.

5.Per contra, the learned counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu appearing for the respondents 1 to 3 submitted that the very issue relating to the petitioner's claim to the post of Secretary is the subject matter of O.S.No. 51 of 2026 pending on the file of the District Munsif Court, Kovilpatti. Therefore, during the pendency of the civil suit, the educational authorities cannot adjudicate upon the disputed claim or recognize the petitioner as Secretary. It is further submitted that the petitioner's claim, if any, can always be considered subject to the outcome of the civil suit.

6.Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.

7.It is not in dispute that O.S.No.51 of 2026 is pending on the file of the District Munsif Court, Kovilpatti, wherein the dispute relating to the management of the School and the claim to the post of Secretary is directly in issue. When the very entitlement of the petitioner is the subject matter of adjudication before the competent Civil Court, this Court, in exercise of its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, is not inclined to interfere with the impugned order or issue any direction recognizing the petitioner as Secretary.

8.Accordingly, the Writ Petition stands dismissed. However, liberty is granted to the petitioner to submit a fresh application before the competent educational authorities seeking recognition as Secretary, if he ultimately succeeds in O.S.No.51 of 2026 on the file of the District Munsif Court, Kovilpatti. On receipt of such application, the competent authority shall consider the same on its own merits and in accordance with law.

9.In the meantime, the respondents are directed to ensure that the salary and other admissible service benefits payable to the teaching and non-teaching staff working in the said School are disbursed regularly, without being affected by the pendency of the dispute relating to the School Management.

10.With the above observations and liberty, the Writ Petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.

07.07.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No ps To

1.Joint Director of Elementary Education, DPI Campus, College Road, Chennai.

2.District Elementary Educational Officer, Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi District.

3.Assistant Elementary Educational Officer, Kayathar, Thoothukudi District.

M.DHANDAPANI, J. ps

07.07.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 07.07.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and W.M.P(MD)Nos.13973, 13975 & 13977 of 2026 Ravindranathan ... Petitioner Vs 1.Joint Director of Elementary Education, DPI Campus, College Road, Chennai. 2.District Elementary Educational Officer, Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi District. 3.Assistant Elementary Educational Officer, Kayathar, Thoothukudi District. 4.Elangovan ... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records in connection with impugned order dated 03.06.2026 in O.Mu.No. 1246/Aa3/2026 and quash the same and direct the official respondents to recognize a petitioner as the Secretary of a school management and consequently permit renewal of the schools recognition certificate. For Petitioner : Mr.K.Anand For Respondents : Mr.M.Mahaboob Athiff (R1 to R3) Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu : Mr.K.Jerish Neeraj (R4)