R.Rajendran v. The Joint Director of School Education

Madras HC2 Apr 2026WP/24446/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Time-bound disposal of departmental appeal; writ of mandamus; Article 226; unnumbered appeal to be numbered if otherwise in order; six weeks from receipt of copy of order; Appellate Authority/Joint Director of School Education; Chief Educational Officer order Na.Ka.No.3504/E4/2021 dated 13.05.2022; Thiru.Vi.Ka. Higher Secondary School, Shenoy Nagar, Chennai; opportunity of hearing; no costs.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition disposed of with directions to respondents 1 and 2 to number the appeal (if still unnumbered and otherwise in order) and dispose of it in accordance with law after affording the petitioner an opportunity of hearing, within six weeks from receipt of a copy of the order; if already numbered, to dispose of it likewise within six weeks; no order as to costs. ¶35-36

R.Rajendran Vs The Joint Director of School Education — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the Court should issue a writ of mandamus directing the first respondent (Joint Director of School Education (Higher Secondary)/Appellate Authority) to dispose of the petitioner's unnumbered appeal challenging the second respondent's order dated 13.05.2022, within a time frame fixed by the Court.

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Court's answer

Direction to respondents 1 and 2 to number the petitioner's appeal if it is yet to be numbered and is otherwise in order, and to dispose of it in accordance with law, after affording the petitioner an opportunity of hearing, within six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

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Ratio / Principle

Where the appeal has already been numbered and remains undisposed, respondents 1 and 2 shall dispose of it in accordance with law, after affording the petitioner an opportunity of hearing, within six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Mohammed Shaffiq, J.), WP No.24446 of 2022, disposed on 02-04-2026. R.Rajendran sought a writ of mandamus under Article 226 of the Constitution of India directing the first respondent (Joint Director of School Education (Higher Secondary)/Appellate Authority) to dispose of his unnumbered appeal challenging the order in Na.Ka.No.3504/E4/2021 dated 13.05.2022 passed by the second respondent (Chief Educational Officer). On the Government Advocate's submission, the Court disposed of the writ petition directing respondents 1 and 2 to (i) number the appeal if still unnumbered and otherwise in order, and dispose of it in accordance with law after affording the petitioner an opportunity of hearing within six weeks from receipt of a copy of the order, and (ii) if the appeal is already numbered but undisposed, dispose of it in the same manner within six weeks. No order as to costs.

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WP No.24446 of 2022

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 02-04-2026

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CORAM

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THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ

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WP No.24446 of 2022

R.Rajendran

..Petitioner

The Joint Director of School Education, (Higher Secondary)/Appellate Authority, DPI Campus, Chennai 600 008.

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The Chief Educational Officer, Higher Secondary Schools, DPI Campus, Chennai 600 008.

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The Secretary, Thiru.Vi.Ka. Higher Secondary School, 38/39, First Main Road, Shenoy Nagar, Chennai 600 030.

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..Respondents

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PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue Writ of Mandamus, to direct first respondent to dispose of unnumbered appeal challenging the order in Na. Ka. No. 3504 / E4 / 2021 dated 13.05.2022 passed by second respondent, within a time frame fixed by this Court.

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

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WP No.24446 of 2022

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For Petitioner:	Mr.R.Ganesh Kumar
For Respondents:	Mr.A.M.Ayyathurai, Government Advocate For R1 And R2
	Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan, For R3

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ORDER

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The present writ petition has been filed to direct first respondent to

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dispose of unnumbered appeal, challenging order in Na.Ka.No.3504/E4/2021 dated 13.05.2022 passed by second respondent, within a time frame fixed by this Court.

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At the outset, it is submitted by Mr.Ayyadurai, learned Government Advocate for respondents 1 and 2 that if the above appeal is yet to be numbered,

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the same would be numbered, if it is otherwise in order. In case, appeal is numbered and yet to be disposed of, the same would be disposed of, after affording petitioner an opportunity of hearing, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court, agreed to by learned counsel for petitioner and third respondent.

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3. In that view of the matter, this Court is inclined to dispose of writ

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petition with following directions:

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Page2 of 5

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

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WP No.24446 of 2022

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i) There shall be a direction to respondents 1 and 2 to number appeal, if it

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is yet to be numbered, if it is otherwise in order and dispose of the same, in

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accordance with law, after affording petitioner an opportunity of hearing, within

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a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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ii) In case, appeal is numbered and yet to be disposed of, respondents 1

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and 2 shall dispose of the same, in accordance with law, after affording petitioner an opportunity of hearing, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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4. Accordingly, writ petition stands disposed of. There will be no order as

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to costs.

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02-04-2026

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Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No

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MRN

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