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Dr.T.Magudeeswaran v. The Principal Secretary to Government

Madras HC16 Jul 2025WP/15277/2020

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Anna University recruitment notification quash; University Librarian; Deputy Librarian; minimum qualifications; UGC Regulations 2018; Notification No.001/RC/UD-FR/PR10&20/2020-2 and -3 dated 30.09.2020; Registrar and Recruitment Cell Anna University; University Grants Commission; writ of certiorarified mandamus; Article 226; vacancies already filled; direction to follow UGC guidelines in upcoming recruitment; writ petition disposed; no costs; Madras High Court 16.07.2025.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition disposed of with a direction to the respondents to issue notification by following UGC guidelines in the upcoming recruitment; no costs; connected miscellaneous petitions closed. ¶43

Dr.T.Magudeeswaran Vs The Principal Secretary to… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of with a direction to the respondents to issue notification by following UGC guidelines in the upcoming recruitment; no costs; connected miscellaneous petitions closed.

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Issue for consideration

Whether the minimum qualifications fixed by the third respondent in its notifications dated 30.09.2020 for the posts of University Librarian and Deputy Librarian are violative of and inconsistent with the UGC Regulations, 2018. +1 more

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Court's answer

Since all the vacant positions of University Librarian and Deputy Librarian had been filled by the third respondent, no further adjournments/adjudication were required in the writ petition; the Court did not decide the consistency question on merits.

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Ratio / Principle

The Court directed the respondents to issue notification by following UGC guidelines in the upcoming recruitment.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (N. Mala, J.; order dated 16.07.2025) disposed of a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking certiorarified mandamus to quash the portions of two Anna University recruitment notifications dated 30.09.2020 (No.001/RC/UD-FR/PR10&20/2020-2 and No.001/RC/UDFR/PR10&20/2020-3) prescribing minimum qualifications for the posts of University Librarian and Deputy Librarian, allegedly in violation of the UGC Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges, 2018, and to issue fresh notifications. The petitioner held M.LIS, M.Phil and Ph.D in Library and Information Science and had made an unavailing representation dated 09.10.2020. Standing counsel for the University stated that the vacancies had been filled pursuant to the notification. Without adjudicating the consistency question, the Court disposed of the petition, directing the respondents to issue notification by following UGC guidelines in the upcoming recruitment. No costs; connected miscellaneous petitions closed.

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W.P.No.15277 of 2020

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED : 16.07.2025

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CORAM :

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THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE N/MALA

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Writ Petition No.15277 of 2020 and W.M.P.Nos.19102, 19105 & 19106 of 2020

T.Magudeeswaran

... Petitioner

Vs.

1.The Principal Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, Secretariat, Chennai – 600 009.

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2.The University Grants Commission (UGC), Rep. by its Chairman, Bahadur Shah Zagar Marg, New Delhi – 110 002.

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3.The Registrar, Anna University, Sardar Patel Road, Chennai – 600 025.

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4.The Director, Recruitment Cell, Anna University, Sardar Patel Road, Chennai – 600 025.

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… Respondents

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Page No.1 of 7

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.15277 of 2020

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Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, praying for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records of the impugned notification bearing No.001/RC/UD-FR/PR10&20/2020-2 dated 30.09.2020 with respect to the portion of 'Minimum Qualifications, Experience and Other Requirements for the post of University Librarian in University Library' and Notification bearing No.001/RC/UDFR/PR10&20/2020-3 dated 30.09.2020 with respect to the portions of 'Minimum Qualifications, Experience and Other Requirements for the post of Deputy Librarian in University Library' issued by the third respondent and quash the same and further direct the respondents 3 and 4 to issue Notifications afresh by fixing minimum qualification in terms of the “UGC Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, 2018.

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For Petitioner : Mr.R.Bharath Kumar

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For Respondent 1 : Mr.C.Jayaprakash, Government Advocate

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For Respondent 2 : M/s.V.Sudha

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For Respondents 3 & 4 :Mr.Bharanidharan, Standing Counsel

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O R D E R

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Page No.2 of 7

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.15277 of 2020

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This writ petition has been filed to call for the records of the impugned notification bearing No.001/RC/UD-FR/PR10&20/2020-2 dated 30.09.2020 with respect to the portion of 'Minimum Qualifications, Experience and Other Requirements for the post of University Librarian in University Library' and Notification bearing No.001/RC/UD-FR/PR10&20/2020-3 dated 30.09.2020 with respect to the portions of 'Minimum Qualifications, Experience and Other Requirements for the post of Deputy Librarian in University Library' issued by the third respondent and quash the same and further direct the respondents 3 and 4 to issue Notifications afresh by fixing minimum qualification in terms of the “UGC Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, 2018.

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Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is a holder of M.LIS, M.Phil and Ph.D in Library and Information Science. This being the case, the third respondent has issued two notifications viz., No.001/RC/UD-FR/PR10&20/2020-2 and No.001/RC/UD-

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FR/PR10&20/2020-3 inviting applications for the various posts and also for

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Page No.3 of 7

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.15277 of 2020

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the posts of Deputy Librarian and University Librarian. The petitioner is qualified and fully eligible to the appointment for the posts of Deputy Librarian and University Librarian in terms of UGC Regulations, 2018.

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Learned counsel for the petitioner would further submit that while inviting applications for the said vacant positions, the third respondent have fixed the minimum qualifications for the said posts which are completely in violation and inconsistent with the UGC Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, 2018 of the second respondent herein. Though the petitioner is fully eligible for the aforesaid posts in terms of second respondent's regulation, due to the issuance of the said notifications by the respondents 3 & 4 in an arbitrary manner, the petitioner is seriously prejudiced. Hence he sent a representation dated 09.10.2020 to the respondents 1, 3 & 4 and requested them to make necessary amendments in the notifications in terms of the UGC Regulations, 2018. However, till date no amendments were made in the said notifications. Therefore, aggrieved by issuance of said notifications dated 30.09.2020, the present writ petitioner has

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Page No.4 of 7

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.15277 of 2020

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been filed.

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Learned standing counsel appearing for the respondents 3 & 4 would submit that the notification was issued as per the UGC guidelines and pursuant to the notification, the vacant positions were filed by the third respondent.

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

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Since, all the vacant positions have been filed by the third respondent for the post of University Librarian and Deputy Librarian, no further adjournments required in this writ petition. However, this Court directs the respondents to issue notification by following UGC guidelines in the upcoming recruitment.

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