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We do not see any merit in these appeals. Admittedly the respondents were permitted to undertake part time course to enable them to complete the Bachelor of Engineering by the Corporation vide the letter dated 06.07.2010.

THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 25.06.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R.SUBRAMANIAN

AND

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.SURENDER

W.A.Nos.893 and 1851 of 2025

and

C.M.P.Nos.7546 and 14173 of 2025

W.A.No.893 of 2025:

1.Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation,

(Villupuram) Ltd.,

Rep. by Managing Director,

3/137, Salamedu,

Valudhareddy Post,

Villupuram – 605 602.

2.Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation,

(Villupuram) Ltd.,

Rep. by the Senior Deputy Manager (HRD),

3/137, Salamedu,

Valudhareddy Post,

Villupuram – 605 602.

3.Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation,

(Villupuram) Ltd.,

Rep. by the General Manager,

Kancheepuram Regional Office,

Ponnerikkarai, Karapettai,

Chennai – Bangaluru Highway,

Kancheepuram – 631 552. ... Appellants

Vs.

1.K.Muthusamy

2.V.Jeganathan ... Respondents

Prayer in W.A.No.893 of 2025: Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent, praying to set aside the order made in W.P.No.6547 of 2024 dated 13.03.2024 and allow this Writ Appeal.

W.A.No.1851 of 2025:

1.Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation,

(Villupuram) Ltd.,

Rep. by Managing Director,

3/137, Salamedu,

Valudhareddy Post,

Villupuram – 605 602.

2.Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation,

(Villupuram) Ltd.,

Rep. by the Senior Deputy Manager (HRD),

3/137, Salamedu,

Valudhareddy Post,

Villupuram – 605 602.

3.Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation,

(Villupuram) Ltd.,

Rep. by the General Manager,

Thiruvannamalai Regional Office,

Thiruvannamalai – 636 601. ... Appellants

Vs.

M.Ismail Sharief ... Respondent

Prayer in W.A.No.1851 of 2025: Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent, praying to set aside the order made in W.P.No.8369 of 2024 dated 26.03.2024 and allow this Writ Appeal.

For Appellants : Mr.T.Chandrasekaran in both W.As

For Respondents : Mr.N.Ishak in both W.As

*****

C O M M O N J U D G M E N T

(Judgment of the Court was delivered by R.SUBRAMANIAN, J.)

We do not see any merit in these appeals. Admittedly the respondents were permitted to undertake part time course to enable them to complete the Bachelor of Engineering by the Corporation vide the letter dated 06.07.2010. Subsequently, the respondents in W.A.No.893 of 2025 completed Bachelor of Engineering in 2011~2015 and the respondent in W.A.No.1851 of 2025 completed Bachelor of Engineering in May 2013 with Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Vishwa Maha Vidhyalaya, a Deemed to be University under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

2. The issue as to whether the University requires approval of All India Council for Technical Education for conducting Technical courses was considered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Bharathidasan University Vs. AICTE reported in (2001) 8 SCC 676 and the Hon’ble Supreme Court concluded that the University do not come within the definition of Technical Institution within the All India Council for Technical Education Act. Therefore, they were not required to get approval of All India Council for Technical Education for conducting Technical courses.

3. This position of law prevailed till the Hon’ble Supreme Court pronounced in Orissa Lift Irrigation Corp. Ltd., Vs. Rabi Sankar Patro and others reported in (2018) 1 SCC 468, wherein, the Universities were also mandated to get the approval of All India Council for Technical Education for running Technical courses. In paragraph Nos.25 and 26 of the said judgment in Orissa Lift Irrigation Corp. Ltd., Vs. Rabi Sankar Patro and others (supra), the Hon’ble Supreme Court has observed as follows:~

25. On 24~9~2001, a decision was rendered by this Court in Bharathidasan University v. Aicte [Bharathidasan University v. Aicte, (2001) 8 SCC 676 : 1 SCEC 924] . The appellant therein, created under the Bharathidasan University Act with its area of operation over three districts in the State of Tamil Nadu had commenced courses in technological subjects in its own departments as an adjunct to the University without any approval of Aicte. A writ petition was filed by Aicte submitting that no such courses could be started without its prior approval. The plea was accepted [Bharathidasan University v. Aicte, 1998 SCC OnLine Mad 715 : (1998) 3 CTC 236] by the High Court of Madras which view was challenged in this Court. While dealing with question whether prior approval of Aicte was required for a “university” to start courses in technical education, this Court held that the definition of “technical institution” under the Aicte Act excludes a “university” and since the power of grant of approval for starting new “technical institution” and for introduction of new courses or programmes under Section 10(k) of the Aicte Act would not cover a “university” but only a technical institution, the appellant University was within its rights to start such courses without the prior approval of Aicte.

26.Bharathidasan [Bharathidasan University v. Aicte, (2001) 8 SCC 676 : 1 SCEC 924] having laid down that prior approval of Aicte was not required for a university to start technical courses, the subsequent guidelines, notifications issued by UGC, Aicte and the Government of India were framed in the light of the said decision. The understanding entertained by all the authorities was that Aicte was not competent to deal with issues of prior approval in respect of “universities” for technical courses and since the term “university” under the UGC Act includes deemed to be universities, Aicte has no power to deal with issues of prior approval for technical courses in respect of deemed to be universities as well.

4. Therefore, the requirement of approval by All India Council for Technical Education applied to the Universities concerned only from the Academic Year 2018~2019. Those graduates who had completed the course Bachelor of Engineering in those universities prior to 2018~2019 would possess a valid degree.

5. The learned Single Judge has also after noticing the above judgment held that the Bachelor of Engineering degrees obtained by the respondents are perfectly valid. Therefore, we see no reason to interfere with the orders of the writ Court.

6. The Writ Appeals fail and are accordingly dismissed. It is made clear that the respondents will be entitled to the benefit of the order of the learned Single Judge and the same shall be complied with within a period of twelve (12) weeks from today. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

(R.S.M.,J.) (K.S.,J.)

dsa 25.06.2025

Index : No

Neutral Citation : No

Speaking order

1.The Managing Director,

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation,

(Villupuram) Ltd.,

3/137, Salamedu,

Valudhareddy Post,

Villupuram – 605 602.

2.The Senior Deputy Manager (HRD),

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation,

(Villupuram) Ltd.,

3/137, Salamedu,

Valudhareddy Post,

Villupuram – 605 602.

3.The General Manager,

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation,

(Villupuram) Ltd.,

Kancheepuram Regional Office,

Ponnerikkarai, Karapettai,

Chennai – Bangaluru Highway,

Kancheepuram – 631 552.

4.The General Manager,

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation,

(Villupuram) Ltd.,

Thiruvannamalai Regional Office,

Thiruvannamalai – 636 601.

R.SUBRAMANIAN, J.

and

K.SURENDER, J.

W.A.Nos.893 and 1851 of 2025

25.06.2025

Maternity period has to be counted as part of bond period: HC

THE HINDU BUREAU 28.06.2025

MADURAI Granting relief to a doctor, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has held that the maternity period of 12 months has to be counted as part of the bond period and directed Thanjavur Medical College to return her certificates.

The court was hearing an appeal filed by E. Krithikaa who obtained her MBBS degree in 2014. She was allotted a seat in MS (General Surgery) in Thanjavur Medical College for the academic year 2016-17 which was a three year course.

As per the prospectus for admission to postgraduate courses in Tamil Nadu Government Medical Colleges (2016-19), the candidate should sign a bond for a sum of ₹40 lakh with an undertaking that he/she would serve the State for a period of not less than two years. In addition, the candidate was required to submit the original educational certificates to the medical college. The appellant had signed the bond and also submitted her original certificates.

After the appellant obtained her PG degree, she was appointed as Assistant Surgeon at Thittakudi Government Hospital in 2019. She reported for duty and served in the hospital for 12 months. Following her pregnancy, she went on maternity leave. Since she had served the government only for 12 months and not for 24 months of bond service, the hospital authorities declined to return her original certificates.

A Division Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and K. Rajasekar observed that the condition set out in the prospectus has to give way to the rights conferred on women under the provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.

The Supreme Court declared that women have a fundamental right to benefits arising out of the situation of maternity. Maternity leave was integral to maternity benefit and forms a facet of Article 21 of the Constitution.

The court observed that the appellant no doubt is not a government employee. She is only obliged to render bond service to the government for two years. But a regular State government employee is entitled to avail maternity leave for 12 months as per the amended Service Rules. The appellant was also entitled to the very same treatment applicable to any government employee. The fact that she was only in the service of the government without being a regular employee is irrelevant.

When the fundamental right of the appellant is involved, she is entitled to the protective umbrella of not only Article 21 but also Article 14. Applying the legal fiction laid down in Kavita Yadav case, the appellant must be taken to have served the government even during her maternity period. In other words, the maternity period of 12 months has to be counted as part of the bond period, the court observed.

MUFA appeals for replacement of MKU Registrar (in-charge)

THE HINDU BUREAU MADURAI 28.06.2025

Madurai Kamaraj University Faculty Association has penned a letter to the Commissioner of Collegiate Education E. Sundaravalli to replace the Madurai Kamaraj University Registrar (in-charge) for displaying inefficiency in his duties.

MUFA alleged that the Registrar had consistently demonstrated a lack of administrative inefficiency, accountability, and professional integrity.

Further, misleading statements, failure to fulfil official commitments, and an overall irresponsible approach to duties had become frequent, the letter added.

‘Disregard’

“Not only the remarks of the Registrar reflect a disregard for institutional hierarchy but also erode the fundamental values of transparency and impartiality that our university must uphold,” it stated.

In light of the concerns, the letter noted that the executive council meeting held recently decided to request the government to replace the Registrar.

Computer Science Engineering emerges as most-preferred stream among TNEA toppers

Exploring options: Some of the students are also considering taking up veterinary sciences and artificial intelligence.

28.06.2025

While most of them prefer to study at Anna University, a few are in a dilemma over which stream or institution to choose. Dharani V. of Cuddalore, Mythili P. of Chennai secured the first and second ranks respectively in the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions merit list for govt. school students SAPTARSHI BHATTACHARYA CHENNAI Computer Science Engineering has emerged as the most-preferred stream of choice for most of the toppers at the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2025.

While most of them preferred to study at Anna University, a few are in a dilemma over which stream or institution to choose.

Mythili P., a student of Government Higher Secondary School in Anakaputhur, Chennai, secured the second rank in the TNEA merit list for government school students (7.5% reservation). She told The Hindu that her choice was Computer Science as she had developed deep interest in software development, coding and programming language. Having lost her father to an accident a decade ago, Mythili was brought up by her mother, who runs a roadside tender coconut stall. She wishes to study well and land a good job after completing her degree.

S. Pachaiyammal’s story is not much different. Her father developed neurological complications soon after her birth and lost his ability to work. He also suffered partial speech impairment. Her mother, a tailor, brought her up along with her siblings. “Earlier, my father was a milk vendor in our village. After he developed the disorder, he could barely move,” Pachaiyammal said.

A student of Government Model School in Thiruvannamalai, she secured fifth rank in the TNEA merit list for government school students. However, she now faces a dilemma after receiving a call from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), offering her full scholarship to study the subject of her choice. She is torn between VIT and Anna University. Like Mythili, Pachaiyammal too wants to pursue Computer Science Engineering, since it offers good placement opportunities. “I will have to work for a few years before I could decide to pursue higher studies,” she says. Pachaiyammal has pursued sports, too, winning medals at zonal and district levels in Kho Kho and having represented her district in State-level competitions.

Dharani V., a student of Government Higher Secondary School in Kandamangalam, Cuddalore, who topped the merit list for government school students, too, excelled in sports. She has won laurels in triple jump, 200 metres sprint, and relay at zonal-level competitions. She, however, is torn between Veterinary Sciences and Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Her father is a mason.

Vetrivel S., a classmate of Pachaiyammal, secured fourth rank in the merit list. His wish to pursue Computer Science Engineering at Anna University has been largely influenced by his mathematics teacher. “Sir said I could either land a good job or write GATE to get into IIT for masters. We will decide later,” he added. His father is a construction worker and his mother grew crops on a farm.

Similarly, Karthika S. of Kongunadu Matric Higher Secondary School in Namakkal, and Amalan Anto M. of Gokilambal Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Ariyalur — who secured second and third ranks in the TNEA general category merit list — said they would like to pursue Computer Science Engineering at Anna University.

Only Sagasra J. of MLM Mamallan Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Kancheepuram, who topped the general merit list, said she would like to pursue Electronics and Communication Engineering at College of Engineering, Guindy.

At 94, this ‘paper thatha’ continues to wake up at 3.30 a.m. and deliver

60 newspapers across eight streets

Undeterred by age: Work is worship, says Shanmugasundaram, quoting

a Tamil proverb. Akhila Easwaran

Sahana Mira S.

CHENNAI 28.06.2025

At the age of 94, K. Shanmugasundaram goes by the name ‘paper thatha’ in his locality. Waking up before the arrival of dawn, 3.30 a.m. to be precise, he hops onto his bicycle.

Within the hour, he collects around 50 milk packets from a point in Gopalapuram, which he delivers door-to-door without missing a day. But his early morning ritual doesn’t end there.

With barely a pause to catch his breath, he goes onto his next task, where he delivers 60 newspapers across eight streets in Gopalapuram, starting from Padmavathi road.

Come rain or shine, this tireless routine has been a part and parcel of Mr. Shanmugasundaram’s life since the 2000s.

“Even when I am running a fever, I don’t miss a day. It is only because I deliver newspapers in this neighbourhood that I got the chance to cross paths with Kalaignar [M. Karunanidhi] and many other notable figures in the past,” he says.

After finishing his paper route, delivering both Tamil dailies and national English newspapers, he heads off to look after a wedding hall, where he reads inquisitively, word after word through the newspapers himself, right up until the mid-day. He shares that during the COVID-19 pandemic, his readership saw a decline. A hundred households that once had their newspaper subscription became 60 now.

“But I have never once thought about retiring and staying at home, even though my ten grandchildren urge me to. They are all well educated and constantly worry that I don’t get enough rest. But the secret to my happiness is being around people. So, I am never at home, I am always out and about on my bicycle,” says the 94-year-old, who takes care of his wife and has educated his five daughters and a son through the many jobs.

(Read the full report on: http://bit.ly/3GjoNNK)

Doctor’s maternity leave period is part of bond period: HC

K. Kaushik@timesofindia.com 28/06/2025

Madurai : The 12-month maternity leave period of a doctor who signed a bond to serve TN govt for two years while joining a PG course at Thanjavur Medical College must be counted as part of the bond period, Madras high court recently ruled, directing authorities to return her original certificates. The court was hearing an appeal by E Krithikaa who was allotted an MS (general surgery) seat for 2016-17 at the college whose prospectus mandates candidates to sign a bond for ₹40 lakh and undertaking to serve govt for at least two years.

After obtaining degree in 2019, she was appointed assistant surgeon at Thittakudi govt hospital where she served for 12 months before going on maternity leave. Saying she served govt for only 12 months, the authorities declined to return her original certificates. In 2022, her petition seeking a direction to return her original certificates was dismissed by a single bench propmpting her to file the present appeal.

A division bench of Justice G R Swaminathan and Justice K Rajasekar said an educational certificate is not amarketable commodity and cannot be retained or withheld for any reason. “As per conditions set out in the prospectus, the appellant has to serve the govt of Tamil Nadu in one of their hospitals for two years.

This condition must give way to the rights conferred on women under the provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. This is especially so because the honourable Supreme Court declared that any woman has a fundamental right to the benefits arising out of her situation of maternity. Maternity leave is integral to maternity benefit and forms a facet of Article 21 of the Constitution,” they observed.