Arunima Diya D.R. Vs Pondicherry University — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

Arunima Diya D.R. Vs Pondicherry University — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ Petitions disposed of with a direction to the second respondent to pass final orders on the show cause notice issued on the basis of the Internal Complaints Committee report, after duly considering the explanations submitted by the petitioners, within four weeks from receipt of a copy of the order; return of deposits already made by the petitioners made subject to the result of the said final orders; no order as to costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether the impugned show cause notice dated 03.06.2025 bearing Ref. No. PU/AS/ICC/2025/72, issued by the second respondent on the basis of the Internal Complaints Committee report, ought to be quashed by writ of Certiorari. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

The second respondent is directed to pass final order on the show cause notice issued on the basis of the report of the Internal Complaints Committee, after duly considering the explanations submitted by the petitioners, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

Key takeaways

The return of deposits already made by the petitioners shall be subject to the result of the said final orders.ratio¶25

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (G.K. Ilanthiraiyan, J.) disposed of five writ petitions (W.P.Nos. 22226, 22232, 22235, 22244 & 22249 of 2025) filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking quashing of a show cause notice (Ref. No. PU/AS/ICC/2025/72) issued by the Deputy Registrar (Academic), Pondicherry University, on the basis of an Internal Complaints Committee report into complaints of sexual harassment. Noting that the petitioners had already submitted explanations which were pending final orders, and that pursuant to the Court's interim order dated 25.07.2025 they had deposited an amount with the respondents and been returned all their original certificates (including the IV Semester statement of grades, provisional degree certificate, transfer certificate and migration certificate), the Court directed the second respondent to pass final orders on the show cause notice after duly considering the explanations, within four weeks from receipt of a copy of the order, and made the return of deposits subject to the result of those final orders. Disposed of with no order as to costs. (The prayer describes the notice as dated 03.06.2025; the order body refers to it as dated 30.06.2025.)

W.P.Nos.22226 of 2025 and etc batch

THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 04.09.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN

W.P.Nos. 22226, 22232, 22235, 22244 & 22249 of 2025

Arunima Diya D.R.	....	Petitioner in W.P.No.22226 of 2025
Anjitha T.V	....	Petitioner in W.P.No.22232 of 2025
Abhijitha M.P.	....	Petitioner in W.P.No.22235 of 2025
Safvan K.K.	....	Petitioner in W.P.No.22244 of 2025
Sooraj S Kurup	.... Vs	Petitioner in W.P.No.22249 of 2025

1.Pondicherry University, Rep by Registrar, Bharat Ratna Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Administrative Building, R.V. Nagar, Kalapet, Puducherry- 605 014.

2. Deputy Registrar (Academic), Pondichery University, Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Administrative Building, R.V. Nagar, Kalapet, Puducherry-605 014. ..... Respondents in all W.Ps Common Prayer: Writ Petitions are filed under Article 226 of

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Constitution of India p raying to issue Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records of the 2^nd respondent culminating in the impugned show cause notice dated 03.06.2025 bearing reference number. PU/AS/ICC/2025/72 issued by the 2^nd respondent, quash the same.

For Petitioner (in all W.Ps) : Mrs.B.Poongkhulali For Respondents (in all W.Ps) : Mr.M.Ravi

COMMON ORDER

These Writ Petitions have been filed challenging the

impugned show cause notice dated 30.06.2025 issued on the basis of the report of the Internal Complaints Committee with regard to a complaint of sexual harassment made by the victims.

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

It is seen that the petitioners have already submitted their explanations, which are pending for passing of final orders by the second respondent. In the meanwhile, this Court, by an interim order dated 25.07.2025, directed the petitioners to deposit a certain amount with the respondents and on such deposit, the respondents were directed to return all the original certificates including the IV Semester statement of grades,

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provisional degree certificate, transfer certificate and migration certificate. Pursuant to the same, the petitioners were returned all the certificates.

In view of the above, the second respondent is directed

to pass final order, on the show cause notice issued on the basis of the report of the Internal Complaints Committee, after duly considering the explanations submitted by the petitioners, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The return of deposits, already made by the petitioners shall be subject to the result of the said final orders.

With the above direction, these Writ Petitions are

disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.

04.09.2025

Internet: Yes Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Lpp

G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.

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Lpp

To

1.The Registrar, Pondicherry University, Bharat Ratna Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Administrative Building, R.V. Nagar, Kalapet, Puducherry- 605 014.

2. Deputy Registrar (Academic), Pondichery University, Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Administrative Building, R.V. Nagar, Kalapet, Puducherry-605 014.

W.P.Nos. 22226, 22232, 22235, 22244 & 22249 of 2025

04.09.2025

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