IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS RESERVED ON : 18.11.2025 PRONOUNCED ON : 26.11.2025 CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN W.P.Nos.38357, 38543, 40805, 40868, 40872, 43045, 43048, 43119 of 2025 and W.M.P.Nos.42890, 42897, 42900, 42901, 43092, 43093, 43094, 45719, 45726, 45802, 45807, 45811, 45813, 48178, 48179, 48181 to 48185, 48188, 48278, 48280, 48281, 48283 of 2025 W.P.No.38357 of 2025 :-

1. Sudantirarajan

2. Kathiravan K

3. Ramalingam Murugesan

4. Manikandan T

5. G.Saravanan ... Petitioner Vs.

1. The Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.

2. The Commissioner, Directorate of Technical Education, No.53, Sardar Patel Road, Anna University, Guindy, Chennai – 600 025.

3. The Syndicate Secretary, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, Cuddalore – 608 002.

4. The Registrar, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram.

Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, Cuddalore – 608 002. ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the impugned G.O.217 dated 20.08.2025 and of the consequential impugned proceedings of the second respondent in 31232/A5/2025 dated 03.10.2025, and to quash the same insofar as petitioners concerned and consequently direct the first respondent to issuance of protective guidelines ensuring that redeployment of surplus staff of Annamalai University carried out strictly with protection of cadre, grade, pay, increments, seniority and pensionary benefits, continuity of service without break preservation of promotional avenues, and clarity regarding re-absorption after three years.

For Petitioners in W.P.No.40805 of 2025 : Mr. S.Ramesh in W.P.Nos.40868 &40872 of 2025 : Mr.R.Singaravelur, Senior Counsel For Ms.P.Brindha in W.P.Nos.38357

38543, 43045, 43048

43119 of 2025 : Mr.C.Iyyapparaj For Respondents For R1 in W.P.

Nos.40868, 40872 of 2025 : Mr.M.R.Gokul Krishnan For R2 in W.P. Additional Government Pleader Nos.38357, 38543, 40805, 43045, 43048, 43119 of 2025 For R2 in W.P.

Nos.40868, 40872 of 2025 : Mr.M.Ajmal Khan For R3 & R4 in Additional Advocate General W.P. Nos.38357, Assisted by Mr.S.Venkatesh 38543, 40805, For M/s. Ajmal Association

43045, 43048, 43119 of 2025

COMMON ORDER

All the Writ Petitions have been filed challenging the order passed by the Government of Tamil Nadu dated 20.08.2025 & 09.09.2025 and consequential proceedings, thereby deploying the surplus teaching and non teaching staff in various category of the Annamalai University to the Government Engineering Colleges/Polytechnic Colleges/Directorate of Technical Education and Public Works Department (Technical Education circle and construction wing of DOTE) on agreement basis for a period of three years, as per Section 19 of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants (Conditions of Service) Act, 2019 (hereinafter referred to as “the TNGS Act”).

2. The issues involved in all these Writ Petitions are similar in nature and therefore this Court is inclined to pass a common order. 3. The Annamalai University was originally established under the Annamalai University Act, 1928 (hereinafter referred to as “the Old Act”). In the year 2013, the Government of Tamil Nadu has passed a new Act viz., Annamalai University Act, 2013 (hereinafter referred to as “the New Act”) by repealing the Old Act. New regulations came into force in the year 2020. All the petitioners were appointed before the New Act came into force, when the Old Act was still in force. The petitioners were appointed as Technical Assistants, Laborers and subsequently they were promoted to various posts such as Assistant Professors, Professors etc. Their posts were regularized by the Annamalai University in the existing places.

4. While being so, as per the government order in G.O.(D).No.217 Higher Education (H1) Department dated 20.08.2025, 1368 staff member including 82 teaching staff and 1286 non-teachi