IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 17-03-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA AND WMP NO. 41520 OF 2025 Dr.S.Manikandan ..Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. The Principal Secretary To Government, Higher Education Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George Chennai 09

2. The Registrar Barathiyar University, Coimbatore

3. The Director Of Collegiate Education

577 Anna Salai Saidapet Chennai 15

4. The Regional Joint Director Of Collegiate Education Race Course Road Coimbatore 641 018

5. The Principal Government Arts And Science College Gudalur

643 212 ..Respondent(s)

Prayer:- Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of Mandamus, directing the 3rd to 5th respondent to absorb the petitioner as Guest Lecturer in the vacant post of Assistant professor in the Commerce Department in the 5th respondent college.

For Petitioner(s): Ms. Dakshyani Reddy, Senior Counsel for Mr.G.Jaisivaramaraj For Respondent(s): Mr.M.R.Gokul Krishnan, AGP for R.1, 3 to 5.

R.2- No appearance.

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed for the following reliefs:-

“directing the 3rd to 5th respondent to absorb the petitioner as Guest Lecturer in the vacant post of Assistant professor in the Commerce Department in the 5th respondent college.”

2. The petitioner’s case is that she had completed her B.Com (CA) degree in 2011 and M.Com (CA) in 2013 from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. She had thereafter completed her M.Phil in 2014 from Bharathidasan University and was awarded a Ph.D. from Bharathiar University in the year 2023.

3. The petitioner would submit that the 5th respondent College, namely Government Arts and Science College, Gudalur, The Nilgiris, was functioning as a constituent college of the 2nd respondent, namely, Bharathiar University Arts and Science College, Gudalur, prior to 2019. During the said period, Guest Lecturers were appointed by the 5th respondent, and their salary was paid by the 2nd respondent on a consolidated basis. The petitioner was appointed as a Guest Lecturer in the Department of Commerce with Computer Applications by the 5th respondent on 08.06.2015 on a consolidated salary and joined duty on 18.06.2015. At that point in time, the Commerce Department offered multiple courses, including B.Com, B.Com (CA), B.Com (IT), and M.Com, and had several Guest Lecturers engaged for academic purposes.

4. The petitioner would submit that she has been continuously working as a Guest Lecturer in the 5th respondent College for more than 10 years and has acquired substantial teaching experience. The petitioner would further submit that there are presently two vacant posts in the Department of Commerce with Computer Applications in the 5th respondent College. In this regard, the petitioner had submitted representations dated 27.05.2025 to the respondents 2 and 4, and on 10.07.2025 to the 5th respondent, requesting appointment as Guest Lecturer against the vacant sanctioned posts. However, no action has been taken on the petitioner’s representations to date. Hence, the present Writ Petition has been filed.

5. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the records.

6. Considering the limited request of the petitioner and taking note of the that earlier by an order dated 12.02.2026 in Na.Ka.No.TNDCE/8701/2025-D1, the 3rd respondent had accommodated Mr. Ramasamy as a Guest Lecturer in place of Dr. Rincy Mathew, this writ petition is allowed. The 3rd respondent is directed to consider the petitioner’s request in tune with the earlier order passed by the 3^rd respondent dated 12.02.2026 and pass appropriate orders within a period of 4 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs.

Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

17-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No SHR To

1. The Principal Secretary To Government, Higher Education Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George Chennai 09

2. The Registrar Barathiyar University, Coimbatore

3. Th