Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to return petitioners' all original certificates as per the petitioners' common representation dated 23.05.2014
COMMON ORDER
By consent, all these Writ Petitions are taken up for final disposal at the time of admission itself.
2. Heard, M/s. Helen Justin, learned counsel for the petitioners and also Mr. R.A.S Senthilvel and K.V Dhanapalan, learned Additional Government Pleader, who has taken notice on behalf of the respondents in W.P Nos. 15731 to 15738 of 2014 and W.P Nos. 15739 to 15743 of 2014 respectively.
3. The petitioners have come up with these Writ Petitions for a Mandamus, directing the second respondent to return all the original certificates as per the common representation of the petitioners, dated 23.05.2014
4. According to the petitioners, they got selected and joined P.G Degree Course under All India Quota. Their grievance is that after completing the said course, the second respondent has not returned the original certificates, which was submitted to him at the time of getting admission. The petitioners alleging that the retention of certificates by the second respondent is arbitrary and against law, have come before this Court with these Writ Petitions seeking the relief stated supra.
5. The learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners are not governed by the terms and conditions prescribed by the respondents in their prospectus, because, they have applied through All India Entrance Examination for selection to All India Quota seats. He would further submit that the execution of bond is only for the employment in Tamil Nadu Government Institution. He would further add that as the petitioners have been selected under All India Quota seats, the execution of bond will have no effect on them as they have not applied for admission through the prospectus of the respondents and hence, the retention of the Certificates by the second respondent is against law.
6. The learned counsel for the petitioners would bring to the notice of this Court that already similar set of Writ Petitions have been filed before this Court and orders have been passed in W.P No. 12923 of 2008 etc. & batch, dated 12.12.2008. In one such batch of Writ Petitions, Writ Appeal was also filed. In the Writ Appeal also, the order passed in the Writ Petition was confirmed, holding that for the candidates, who joined in Government Colleges in Tamil Nadu selected under All India Quota, the bond will not apply. Some candidates, who were selected under State Quota, also questioned the execution of bond to serve in Government Institution, by way of filing Writ Petition, but, the same was dismissed by this Court. Against which, Writ Appeal was filed and the same was upheld by this Court, however, reserving right to the Government insofar as the State Quota is concerned to take appropriate action for violation of any condition. The learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that inasmuch as the petitioners have been selected under All India Quota seats, the order passed by this Court in W.P No. 12923 of 2008 etc. & batch, dated 12.12.2008, which was followed by this Court in W.P No. 23366 of 2012, by order dated 29.10.2012, will apply to the case of the petitioners. The learned counsel would submit that following the said decisions, the second respondent may be directed to return all the original certificates of the petitioners by considering their common representation dated 23.05.2014
7. The learned Additional Government Pleader would submit that if the terms and conditions stipulated in the bond are violated by the petitioners, liberty may be given to the respondents to take appropriate action.
8. I have considered the above submissions.
9. The very issue was considered by this Court in W.P No. 12923 of 2008 etc. and batch, dated 12.12.2008 and the same was followed by this Court in W.P No. 23366 of 2012, dated 29.10.2012, and was held as under:-
“8. The very issue was considered as Issue No. 1 in W.P No. 12923 of 2008 (batch case) dated 12.12.2008 and the said issue was answered thus:
The PG Degree/Diploma Holders, who applied for their Degree/Diploma course through All India Entrance Examination for selection to All India Quota seats and admitted to Tamil Nadu Government Medical Colleges are not bound by the terms and conditions issued by the respondents through their prospectus. Even if any candidate executed bond, it will have no effect since they have not applied for admission under the impugned prospectus.”
9. In the light of the said decision rendered by me in the batch of cases and the same having been implemented by the respondents, the respective respondents are bound to return the certificates to the petitioners as prayed for in these Writ Petitions. Consequently, the Writ Petitions are allowed in terms of the order made in W.P No. 12923 of 2008 (batch case) dated 12.12.2008 and the respondents are directed to return the certificates to the respective petitioners within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs.”
10. Having regard to the fact that the subject matter is no more res integra in view of the decisions of this Court cited supra, following the same these Writ Petitions are allowed and the second respondent is hereby directed to return the certificates to the respective petitioners as prayed for in these Writ Petitions within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
11. It is needless to state that the respondents have to take into consideration the batch of writ petitions filed before this Court and similar orders being passed and accordingly they can give appropriate instruction to the authorities concerned to return the certificates to the persons, who are similarly placed as that of the petitioners herein.
12. With the above direction, these writ petitions are allowed. No costs.