WA No.1807 of 2022 etc batch

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 13.07.2023

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R.MAHADEVAN

and

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ

Writ Appeal Nos. 1807, 1808, 1809, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815,

1816, 1817, 1819, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2087, 2088, 2089, 2090,

2091, 2092, 2093, 2094, 2095, 2096, 2097, 2098, 2099, 2100, 2101,

2102, 2103, 2104, 2105, 2106, 2107, 2108, 2109, 2110, 2111, 2112,

2113, 2114, 2115, 2116, 2117, 2118, 2120, 2121, 2122, 2123, 2124,

2125, 2426, 2427, 2428, 2429, 2430, 2431, 2432 and 2440 of 2022

and

C.M.P. Nos.15765 and 15791 of 2022

---

W.A. No. 1807 of 2022

S.K. Nagarajan

.. Appellant

Versus

1.The Vice-Chancellor

Annamalai University

Annamalai Nagar

Chidambaram

Cuddalore District - 608 002

2.The Registrar

Annamalai University

Annamalai Nagar

Chidambaram

Cuddalore District - 608 002

.. Respondents

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WA No.1807 of 2022 etc batch

W.A. No. 1807 of 2022:- Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent

against the order dated 27.04.2022 passed by the learned Judge in Writ

Petition No. 14434 of 2021.

For Appellants

:

Mr. K.M. Vijayan, Senior Advocate

for Mr. M. Velmurugan

in Writ Appeal Nos. 1807, 1808, 1809,

1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816,

1817, 1819, 2426, 2427, 2428, 2429,

2430, 2431, 2432 and 2440 of 2022

Mr. K.M. Vijayan, Senior Advocate

assisted by Mr. R. Shivakumar

for M/s. K.M. Vijayan Associates

in Writ Appeal Nos. 2004, 2005, 2011,

2013, 2087, 2088, 2089, 2090, 2091,

2092, 2093, 2094, 2095, 2096, 2097,

2098, 2099, 2100, 2101, 2102, 2103,

2104, 2105, 2106, 2107, 2108, 2109,

2110, 2111, 2112, 2113, 2114, 2115,

2116, 2117, 2118, 2120, 2121, 2122,

2123, 2124 and 2125 of 2022

For Respondents

:

Mr. C.P. Arivudai Nambi

Standing Counsel for Annamalai University

in all the Writ Appeals

COMMON JUDGMENT

(Judgment of the Court was delivered by R.MAHADEVAN, J)

The writ petitioners are the appellants herein. They have filed these

writ appeals as against the common orders dated 27.04.2022 and 23.06.2022

passed by the learned Judge in two different batches of writ petitions viz.,

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WA No.1807 of 2022 etc batch

WP.No.14422 of 2021 etc., cases and WP No.5964 of 2022 etc., cases,

respectively.

2.The case projected by the appellants herein in the writ petitions,

which are absolutely necessary and germane for disposal of these appeals, are

narrated hereunder.

3.(i)

The appellants / Writ Petitioners were working as Assistant

Professor in the respondent University. During the course of their

employment, notification dated 08.08.2018 was issued inviting applications

from the eligible teachers and other academic staff of the University (except

medical and dental faculties) under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS)

for promotion to the posts of Associate Professor as well as Professor, as the

case may be. It was indicated in the said notification that the applicant has to

submit his or her application for simultaneous promotion to the post of

Associate Professor as well as Professor under the CAS. As per the

notification, the eligible teachers are required to submit their application to

avail such promotion.

(ii)

Pursuant to the aforesaid notification, the appellants / writ

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WA No.1807 of 2022 etc batch

petitioners submitted their application(s) and participated in the selection

process. On scrutiny of the eligibility and other norms, they were called upon

to attend the interview before the Screening-cum-Evaluation Committee.

Accordingly, the appellants / writ petitioners appeared before the committee

and attended the interview for promotion. Thereafter, they were given

promotion to the post of Associate Professor and they are working in the said

promotional post till date.

(iii)

The grievance of the appellants / writ petitioners before