BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 16.02.2026 CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI WP(MD)Nos.3622 & 3623 of 2026 and WMP(MD)Nos.2948, 2949, 2962, 2964 of 2026 W.P.(MD)No.3622 of 2026:-

J.Jenitha ... Petitioner Vs

1.The University Grants Commission, Rep. by its Chairman, Bahadur Shah Safar Marg, New Delhi - 110 002.

2.The Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Rep. by its Registrar, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli - 627 012.

3.J.Sacratees, The Registrar, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli - 627 012. ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records relating to the impugned proceedings issued by the 3rd respondent Registrar in MSU/R/Estt.(T)/ICC/English/2025 dated 27.01.2026 (calling upon the petitioner to appear before the Internal Complaints Committee), Quash the same, and pass such other or further orders as this Court.

W.P.(MD)No.3623 of 2026:-

Dr.R.Ramesh ... Petitioner Vs

1.The University Grants Commission, Rep. by its Chairman, Bahadur Shah Safar Marg, New Delhi - 110 002.

2.The Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Rep. by its Registrar, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli - 627 012.

3.J.Sacratees, The Registrar, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli - 627 012. ... Respondents Prayer:-Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records relating to the impugned proceedings issued by the third respondent Registrar in MSU/R/Estt(T)/ICC/English/2025, dated 27.01.2026 (calling upon the petitioner to appear before the Internal Complaints Committee), quash the same.

For Petitioner : Mr.P.Muthuvel For R2 & R3 : Mr.Mahoob Athiff Standing Counsel (In both WPs)

C O M M O N O R D E R

The petitioners, who are working as Assistant Professor and Associate Professor at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli have filed these writ petitions, challenging the communication issued by the Registrar of the University, directing them to appear before the Internal Complaint Committee. 2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that the Research scholars/complainants, who have lodged complaints as against the petitioners have withdrawn their complaints. Even then, the Registrar has issued the impugned communication, directing the petitioners to appear before the Internal Complaints Committee. According to him, the Registrar is not having any authority to issue the summons.

3.Mr.Mahaboob Athiff, learned Standing counsel takes notice for the respondents 2 & 3 and submits that five Research scholars have lodged complaints as against the petitioners, who are working as Assistant and Associate Professors in the respondent University and the complaints have been forwarded to the Internal Complaints Committee, under the provision of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. He further submits that it is only a communication informing about the constitution of the Internal Complaints Committee and for the appearance of the petitioners before the Committee. It is not a summon issued by the Registrar, calling upon them for an enquiry, as projected by the petitioners.

3.1.The learned counsel has filed a typed set of papers enclosing the copy of the complaints lodged as against these petitioners, dated 04.07.2025. One Mutharasi, Gayathri, Dinesh and Kannagi have logged complaints as against these petitioners on 04.07.2025 to the Registrar/the third respondent. The third respondent, in turn, placed these complaints before the Syndicate Committee on 24.07.2025. The Syndicate Committee by its resolution, dated 24.07.2025 has referred those complaints to the Internal complaints Committee that some of the allegations in the complaints are related to sexual harassment. The Internal Complaints Committee has convened a meeting on 04.08.2025 as