Dismissed¶27

Mercy Sharanya M v. Joint Director

Madras HC2 Jan 2026WP/21568/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras HC, W.P.No.21568 of 2021, decided 02.01.2026 by D. Bharatha Chakravarthy J. Article 226 writ of mandamus seeking recovery of Rs.1,10,000/- admission fee (paid June 2020) from German International School Pvt. Ltd. after the student was never enrolled (COVID-19) and the fee was not refunded; prayer keyed to Joint Director's proceedings dated 31.07.2020 (O.Mu.027276/G2/E3/2020). Dismissed for non-prosecution, no costs: petitioner absent at hearing, 3rd respondent unserved, batta due, no-representation record at Deputy Registrar stage. No ratio on fee recovery; no precedents cited.

What did the court decide?

When the matter came up for hearing, there was no representation on behalf of the petitioner. ¶21

Mercy Sharanya M Vs Joint Director — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Dismissed

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Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should be issued directing the 2nd respondent (Chief Educational Officer, Chengalpattu District) to recover the admission fee of Rs.1,10,000/- from the 3rd respondent school as per the 1st respondent's proceedings dated 31.07.2020 vide O.Mu.027276/G2/E3/2020, the fee having been paid in June 2020 for an admission in which the student was never enrolled and never refunded.

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Ratio / Principle

When the matter came up for hearing, there was no representation on behalf of the petitioner.

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Key takeaways

The 3rd respondent/school, from whom the amount is claimed, has not been served, and the batta is also due.ratio¶25
Even before the Deputy Registrar, when the matter was listed for filing of batta, it was recorded that there was no representation.ratio¶26
In view of the petitioner's absence of representation and the non-service of the 3rd respondent, this Writ Petition is dismissed for non-prosecution, with no costs. The court did not adjudicate the substantive fee-recovery issue.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

MADRAS HIGH COURT (D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, J.) — W.P.No.21568 of 2021, decided 02.01.2026. Petitioner Mercy Sharanya M had paid Rs.1,10,000/- as admission fee in June 2020 to the 3rd respondent school (German International School Pvt. Ltd.); owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and personal circumstances the student was never enrolled and the fee was not refunded. Representations to the education authorities produced a direction to furnish proof and a call upon the school to respond, but no progress followed. Filed under Article 226, the prayer sought a writ of mandamus directing the 2nd respondent (Chief Educational Officer, Chengalpattu District) to recover the admission fee from the 3rd respondent as per the 1st respondent's proceedings dated 31.07.2020 vide O.Mu.027276/G2/E3/2020. At the hearing there was no representation for the petitioner, the 3rd respondent had not been served and batta was due (a no-representation record also existing at the Deputy Registrar stage); the petition was therefore dismissed for non-prosecution, with no costs. No substantive adjudication of the fee-recovery issue occurred and no precedent was cited or relied upon.

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W.P.No.21568 of 2021

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 02.01.2026

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY

W.P.No.21568 of 2021

Mercy Sharanya M

... Petitioner

Joint Director, Tamil Nadu School Education (Elementary Education), DPI Campus, Chennai- 600 006.

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Chief Educational Officer, Chengalpattu District.

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Administration Manager, German International School Pvt.Ltd., Chennai, 4/391, Ram Garden, Anna Salai, Palavakkam, Chennai – 600 041. ... Respondents

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1/4

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

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W.P.No.21568 of 2021 PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue writ of mandamus, directing the 2^nd respondent to recover the admission fee from the 3^rd respondent as per the proceedings dated 31.07.2020 vide O.Mu.027276/G2/E3/2020 of the 1^st respondent and to pass such further or other orders.

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For Petitioner : No appearance For Respondents : Mr.S.Senthil Murugan Special Government Pleader for R1 & R2

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ORDER

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This writ petition is filed with a prayer to direct the 2^nd respondent to

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recover the fee that is paid by the petitioner to the 3rd respondent / school.

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The grievance of the petitioner is that she paid a sum of Rs.1,10,000/- for admission in June 2020 to the 3rd respondent/school. However, on account of the COVID -19 pandamic and the personal circumstances of the petitioner, the student was never enrolled in the school and the said fee was not refunded by the 3rd respondent/school. Therefore, the petitioner made a representation to the Education Authorities. The Authorities, in turn, directed the petitioner to produce the proof and also called upon the 3rd respondent to respond to the petitioner's claim. Thereafter, there was no progress. Hence, the petition.

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