Dismissed¶63

The Latin Catholic Fisherman v. The Secretary

Madras HC6 Jan 2026WP/16277/2015

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

St.Jude's College Thoothoor secretaryship dispute; Latin Catholic Fisherman Educational Society; Rev.Fr.Sylvester Morais; Rev.Fr.Lucian Thomas; Director of Collegiate Education; Moo.Mu.No.9014/F2/2015 dated 20.11.2018; Na.Ka.No.9014/AF2/2015 dated 20.11.2017; Tamil Nadu Private Colleges (Regulation) Act, 1976; Article 226 Constitution of India; writ of mandamus; certiorarified mandamus; certiorari; writ petitions dismissed as infructuous; efflux of time; no costs; miscellaneous petitions closed; Kanyakumari; Madras High Court; 06.01.2026; D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, J.

What did the court decide?

None; all three writ petitions dismissed as infructuous with no costs, and connected miscellaneous petitions closed ¶63

The Latin Catholic Fisherman Vs The Secretary — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

¶1

W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019

¶2

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

¶3

DATED: 06.01.2026

¶4

CORAM:

¶5

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY

¶6

W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019 and W.M.P. (MD).No.18517, 18519 & 18520 of 2019, W.M.P.No.35750 of 2017 & M.P.Nos.1, 3 & 4 of 2015 W.P.No.16277 of 2015

¶7

The Latin Catholic Fisherman Educational Society, (Registration No.13/1978) Thoothoor, Vilavancode Taluk, Kanyakumari District, Rep. by its Secretary Fr.M.Stephen.

¶8

Fr.M.Ubald, (Aged 54 Years) S/o.Mariadasan, Vicar Forane, Colachel Vicariate, Agniswami Complex, Colachel, Kalkulam Taluk, Kanyakumari District.

¶9

Fr.M.Stephen, (Aged 43 Years) S/o.Mudiyappan, Parish Priest, St.Ignatius Church, Kurumpanai, Kalkulam Taluk, Kanyakumari District. ... Petitioners

¶10

¶11

The Secretary, Government of Higher Education Department, Secretariate, Chennai – 600 009.

¶12

The Director of Collegiate Education, D.P.I.Campus, College Road, Chennai – 600 006.

¶13

The Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli -7.

¶14

¶15

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

¶16

W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019

¶17

Rev.Fr.Sylvester Morais St.Joseph’s Church, Kazhakoottam, Tirvandrum, Trivandrum District. Kerala State.

¶18

Rev.Fr.Lucian Thomas, St.Mary’s Church, Vellavilai, Vilavankodu Taluk, Kanyakumari District.

¶19

The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District. ... Respondents

¶20

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the respondents 1 to 3 herein from any manner considering or granting recognition to the fifth respondent as the Secretary of the St.Jude’s College at Thoothoor in terms of the Tamil Nadu Private Colleges (Regulation) Act, 1976.

¶21

For Petitioner : Mr.M.C.Govindan

¶22

For Respondents : Mr.S.Senthil Murugan Special Government Pleader for R1 to R3

¶23

Mr.G.Sankaran, Senior Counsel assisted by Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan for R4 & R5

¶24

Mr.R.Subbaih Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for R6

¶25

W.P.(M.D) No. 21781 of 2019

¶26

Latin Catholic Fisherman Educational Society, Through its Secretary Rev.Fr.Laberin Yesu R, Having office at, St.Jude’s College Campus, Thoothoor, Kanyakumari.

... Petitioner

2/7

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

¶31

W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019

¶32

The Director of Collegiate Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, 9^th Floor, EVK Sampath buildings, College Road, Chennai - 600 006.

¶33

The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Division, Tirunelveli.

¶34

The District Registrar of Societies, Marthandam, Kanyakumari District.

¶35

The Secretary, St.Jude’s College, Thoothor, Kanyakumari District.

¶36

Re.Fr.Sylvester Morais O President of Latin Catholic Fishermen Educational Society, Having address at, St.Jude’s College Campus, Thoothoor, Kanyakumari. ... Respondents

¶37

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to the impugned order of the first respondent in Moo.Mu.No.9014/F2/2015 dated 20.11.2018 and quash the same and consequently direct the first respondent to pass appropriate orders for payment of salary and administration of the college until a validly elected body assumes office of petitioner Society and nominates Secretary to the fourth respondent College, within time fixed by this Court.

¶38

For Petitioner : Mr.H.Arumugam

¶39

For Respondents : Mr.S.Senthil Murugan Special Government Pleader for R1 and R2

¶40

No appearance for R3

¶41

3/7

¶42

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

¶43

W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019

¶44

Mr.G.Sankaran, Senior Counsel assisted by Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan for R5 & R6

¶45

W.P.Nos. 32409 of 2017

¶46

Rev.Fr.Francis D’Sales, The Secretary, Latin Catholic, Fisherman’s Educational Society, St.Jude’s College Campus, Thoothoor-629 176, Kanyakumari District.

¶47

... Petitioner

¶48

¶49

The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Fort St.George, Chennai – 600 009.

¶50

The Director of Collegiate Education, College Road, Chennai - 600 006.

¶51

The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District- 627 007.

¶52

The District Registrar of Societies, Marthandam, Kanyakumari District.

¶53

Rev.Fr.Sylvester Morais, St.Joseph’s Church, Kazhakoottam, Trivandrum, Kerala State.

¶54

Rev.Fr.Lucian Thomas, St.Mary’s Church, Vellavilai, Vilavankodu Taluk, Kanyakumari District. ... Respondents

¶55

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records relating to the impugned

¶56

4/7

¶57

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

¶58

W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019 proceeding issued by the second respondent Director of Collegiate Education in Na.Ka.No.9014/AF2/2015 dated 20.11.2017 registering the sixth respondent as the Secretary of St.Jude’s College, Thoothoor, KK District, quash the same.

¶59

For Petitioner : Ms.H.Mari Sommy Rexi for M/s.ISAAC Chambers For Respondents : Mr.S.Senthil Murugan Special Government Pleader for R1 to R4 Mr.G.Sankaran, Senior Counsel assisted by Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan for R5 & R6

¶60

COMMON ORDER

¶61

When these matters came up for hearing, the learned counsel appearing

¶62

for the petitioners submitted that, in view of the efflux of time and subsequent events, nothing survives in the original prayer that is made in these writ petitions.

¶63

In view thereof, these writ petitions are dismissed as having become

¶64

infructuous. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

¶65

06.01.2026

¶66

Neutral Citation: Yes/No nsl

¶67

5/7

¶68

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

¶69

W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019

¶70

¶71

The Secretary, Government of Higher Education Department, Secretariate, Chennai – 600 009.

¶72

The Director of Collegiate Education, D.P.I.Campus, College Road, Chennai – 600 006.

¶73

The Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli -7.

¶74

The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District.

¶75

The Director of Collegiate Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, 9^th Floor, EVK Sampath buildings, College Road, Chennai - 600 006.

¶76

The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Division, Tirunelveli.

¶77

The District Registrar of Societies, Marthandam, Kanyakumari District.

¶78

The Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Fort St.George, Chennai – 600 009.

¶79

The Director of Collegiate Education, College Road, Chennai - 600 006.

¶80

The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District- 627 007.

¶81

The District Registrar of Societies, Marthandam, Kanyakumari District.

¶82

¶83

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

¶84

W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019

¶85

D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J.

¶86

nsl

¶87

W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019

¶88

06.01.2026

¶89

7/7

¶90

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

Parties & counsel

AI extract

petitioner
The Latin Catholic Fisherman Educational Society, (Registration No.13/1978) Thoothoor, Vilavancode Taluk, Kanyakumari District, Rep. by its Secretary Fr.M.Stephen¶7
Mr.M.C.Govindan
petitioner
Fr.M.Ubald, S/o.Mariadasan, Vicar Forane, Colachel Vicariate, Agniswami Complex, Colachel, Kalkulam Taluk, Kanyakumari District¶8
Mr.M.C.Govindan
petitioner
Fr.M.Stephen, S/o.Mudiyappan, Parish Priest, St.Ignatius Church, Kurumpanai, Kalkulam Taluk, Kanyakumari District¶9
Mr.M.C.Govindan
respondent
The Secretary, Government of Higher Education Department, Secretariate, Chennai – 600 009¶11
Mr.S.Senthil Murugan
respondent
The Director of Collegiate Education, D.P.I.Campus, College Road, Chennai – 600 006¶12
Mr.S.Senthil Murugan
respondent
The Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli -7¶13
Mr.S.Senthil Murugan
respondent
Rev.Fr.Sylvester Morais, St.Joseph’s Church, Kazhakoottam, Tirvandrum, Trivandrum District, Kerala State¶17
Mr.G.Sankaran (Sr.), Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan
respondent
Rev.Fr.Lucian Thomas, St.Mary’s Church, Vellavilai, Vilavankodu Taluk, Kanyakumari District¶18
Mr.G.Sankaran (Sr.), Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan
respondent
The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District¶19
Mr.R.Subbaih
petitioner
Latin Catholic Fisherman Educational Society, Through its Secretary Rev.Fr.Laberin Yesu R, Having office at, St.Jude’s College Campus, Thoothoor, Kanyakumari¶26
Mr.H.Arumugam
respondent
The Director of Collegiate Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, EVK Sampath buildings, College Road, Chennai - 600 006¶32
Mr.S.Senthil Murugan
respondent
The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Division, Tirunelveli¶33
Mr.S.Senthil Murugan
respondent
The District Registrar of Societies, Marthandam, Kanyakumari District¶34
respondent
The Secretary, St.Jude’s College, Thoothor, Kanyakumari District¶35
respondent
Re.Fr.Sylvester Morais O, President of Latin Catholic Fishermen Educational Society, St.Jude’s College Campus, Thoothoor, Kanyakumari¶36
Mr.G.Sankaran (Sr.), Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan
petitioner
Rev.Fr.Francis D’Sales, The Secretary, Latin Catholic, Fisherman’s Educational Society, St.Jude’s College Campus, Thoothoor-629 176, Kanyakumari District¶46
Ms.H.Mari Sommy Rexi
respondent
The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Fort St.George, Chennai – 600 009¶49
Mr.S.Senthil Murugan
respondent
The Director of Collegiate Education, College Road, Chennai - 600 006¶50
Mr.S.Senthil Murugan
respondent
The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District- 627 007¶51
Mr.S.Senthil Murugan
respondent
The District Registrar of Societies, Marthandam, Kanyakumari District¶52
Mr.S.Senthil Murugan
respondent
Rev.Fr.Sylvester Morais, St.Joseph’s Church, Kazhakoottam, Trivandrum, Kerala State¶53
Mr.G.Sankaran (Sr.), Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan
respondent
Rev.Fr.Lucian Thomas, St.Mary’s Church, Vellavilai, Vilavankodu Taluk, Kanyakumari District¶54
Mr.G.Sankaran (Sr.), Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan

Coram

AI extract

D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHYauthor¶5

The Latin Catholic Fisherman v. The Secretary

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

The Latin Catholic Fisherman v. The Secretary

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

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