Madras High Court
WP(MD)/29038/2025 of A.Jeyandiran Vs The Commissioner on 13 October 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 13-10-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI
WP(MD) No. 29038 of 2025
CNR:{HCMD011436942025}
WMP(MD)Nos.22506, 22507, 22510 and 24396 of 2025
A.Jeyandiran
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The Commissioner,
Directorate of Adi Dravidar Welfare,
Ezhilagam Annex Building,
1st Floor, Chepauk,
Chennai - 600 005.
2. The District Collector,
Thanjavur District,
Thanjavur.
..Respondent(s)
PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorari calling for the records pertaining to the Impugned Transfer Order passed by the 1st respondent through his proceedings in Se.Mu.No. E1/25487/2025 dated 23.09.2025 and the consequential impugned relieving Order passed by the 1st respondent through his proceedings in Na.Ka.No. E1/25487/2025
dated 08.10.2025 and quash the same.
For Petitioner(s):
M/s M.Karuppasamy
For Respondent(s):
Mr.G.Mohan Kumar,
Additional Government Pleader
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ORDER
The petitioner, who was working as a Head master in Adi Dravidar Welfare Higher Secondary School, Pattukottai has been transferred and posted in Government Nandanar Adi Dravidar Welfare Higher Secondary School, Chidambaram, at Cuddalore district. Challenging the same, this writ petition has been filed.
2. The grievance of the petitioner is that the petitioner has been transferred to the Adi Dravidar Welfare Higher Secondary School at Pattukottai only on 23.06.2025 and within three months he has been transferred to Chidambaram on the complaint of the District Collector.
3. This court while entertaining this writ petition has granted an order of interim stay on 15.10.2025 and therefore, the petitioner has been allowed to continue at Pattukottai. The respondents have filed a counter affidavit along with an application to vacate the interim order, wherein they have taken a specific stand as under: “8.It is respectfully submitted that the District Collector, Thanjavur, had addressed to the 1st respondent in Na.Mu.No.M5/2774/2025, dated 09.09.2025, wherein it was stated that a meeting was convened by the District Collector on 09.09.2025 to review the First Term results of Classes X and XII for the academic year 2025-2026 in the High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools functioning under the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department in Thanjavur District. It was further stated therein that, during the said review meeting, the petitioner, who was serving as Headmaster of the Adi Dravidar Welfare Higher Secondary School, Pattukottai, did not properly respond to the queries raised by the District Collector on the subject matter. It was also mentioned that the petitioner had attributed the poor performance of students belonging to the Computer Science, Zoology, and Mathematics for their lack of interest and had answered to the District Collector in an inappropriate and singular manner.
9. It is further submitted that, in view of the above conduct and considering the welfare and future education of the students of the said school, the District Collector recommended that the petitioner be transferred to another district. Based on the said recommendation, the petitioner was transferred on administrative grounds from the Adi Dravidar Welfare Higher Secondary School, Pattukottai, Thanjavur District, to the Government Nandanar Boys Higher Secondary School, Chidambaram, Cuddalore District, with directions to hand over the charges to the senior-most P.G. Assistant in the said school and to report for duty at the transferred school, per the proceedings of the 1st respondent in vide No. Se.Mu.No.El/25487/2025, dated 23.09.2025. The said transfer order was served to the petitioner on 07.10.2025, and a relieving order consequently issued vide proceedings Na.Ka.No.El/25487/2025, dated 08.10.2025.
10. It is respectfully submitted that, considering the attitude of the petitioner, who had blamed the school children and had answered to the District Collector in an inappropriate and singular manner and failed to answer properly during the review meeting conducted by the executive magistrate, it was decided to initiate a separate enquiry into the petitioner's inaction and failure to discharge his official duties as the head master of the school.”
4. The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submits that the petitioner has been transferred on the administrative grounds based on the recommendation of the District Collector for the petitioner's misconduct. He further submits that there is no disciplinary proceedings as against the petitioner.
5. The petitioner has filed a rejoinder rebutting the allegations levelled in paragraph Nos.8 to 10 of the counter affidavit. According to the learned counsel, there was no such incident as alleged in the counter affidavit and if the allegations had been true, they would have issued a show cause notice to the petitioner based on the complaint of the District Collector, however there is no such show cause notice issued to the petitioner. Therefore, the learned counsel prayed that the impugned order be set aside.
6. This court has considered the rival submissions made.
7. Specific allegations have been made as against the petitioner that the petitioner has not properly responded to the queries raised by the District Collector and behaved in a disobedient manner in the review meeting conducted by the District Collector.
8. The petitioner has taken a stand that if he has been transferred on the complaint of the District Collector, without conducting any enquiry, it would amount to a punitive transfer. The petitioner has been transferred on the complaint of the District Collector, without conducting an enquiry. In all fairness, the respondents should have conducted an enquiry by initiating disciplinary proceedings based on the complaint of the District Collector. Since it is reported that the petitioner is likely to retire from service by the end of this year, this court is not issuing any such direction.
9. Review meetings are conducted by the District Collectors to ensure proper administration in the departments, which are under their control. Administrative Officers are responsible for proper administration and functioning of the school. Therefore, this court is of the view that the grounds set out in paragraph Nos.8 to 10 can be considered as administrative grounds to transfer the petitioner. It is settled position that the courts should not ordinarily interfere with the transfer orders issued on administrative grounds. Therefore, this court is not inclined to interfere with the impugned transfer order. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 13-10-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No DSK To
1. The Commissioner Directorate of Adi Dravidar Welfare, Ezhilagam Annex Building, 1st Floor, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.
2. The District Collector Thanjavur District, Thanjavur.
B.PUGALENDHI, J. DSK WP(MD) No. 29038 of 2025 13-10-2026