JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH CONT P NO. 4067 of 2024. Annamalai University Registrar convicted for contempt For Regiatrar Ajmal Associates appeared
CONT P NO. 4067 of 2024
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 04.08-2025 CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH
CONT P NO. 4067 of 2024
AND
CONT P NO. 4071 OF 2024,CONT P NO. 4068 OF 2024,CONT P NO. 4069
OF 2024,CONT P NO. 4070 OF 2024,CONT P NO. 4072 OF 2024,CONT P NO. 4073 OF 2024,CONT P NO. 4074 OF 2024 and CONT P NO. 4075 OF
2024
CONT P NO. 4067 of 2024
S. Prabakaran
S/o Samandham, 12/3, Kamarajan Nagar, Near Kottiyam Street, Chidambaram.
Petitioner(s)
Vs
Dr. M. Prakash,
The Registrar, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram.
Contemnor(s) CONT P NO. 4071 of 2024
R. Neelavanan,
S/o.M.Rathinam,
No.74/25, Birunthavanam,
Theradipillayarkovil Street, Chidambaram-608 001.
Petitioner(s)
Vs
Dr. M. Prakash,
The Registrar, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram.
Contemnor(s) CONT P NO. 4068 of 2024
R. Thiruvalluvan,
S/o N. Ramakrishnan,
151/340, Baradhi Salai, Muthaiya Nagar, Chidambaram.
Petitioner(s)
Vs
Dr. M. Prakash,
The Registrar, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram.
Contemnor(s)
CONT P NO. 4069 of 2024
S. Sridhar,
S/o.S.Sadagopan,
No.8/11, Annex-6, Muthaih Nagar, Annamalai Nagar,
Chidambaram-608 002.
Petitioner(s)
Vs
Dr. M. Prakash,
The Registrar, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram.
Contemnor(s) CONT P NO. 4070 of 2024
D. Muthukumaran,
S/o.Duraisingam, No.8/a, Kasimada Street, Chidambaram-608 001.
Petitioner(s)
Vs
Dr. M. Prakash,
The Registrar, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram.
Contemnor(s) CONT P NO. 4072 of 2024
M. Balasundaram,
S/o.S.Mahadevan,
No.221, West Street, Nakkaravandhankudi Post, Chidambaram-608 002.
Petitioner(s)
Vs
Dr. M. Prakash,
The Registrar, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram.
Contemnor(s) CONT P NO. 4073 of 2024
S. Gopalakrishnan,
S/o.N.Swaminathan,
No.230, Melanuvampattu, Keelanuvampattu Post,
Chidambaram-608 102.
Petitioner(s)
Vs
Dr. M. Prakash,
The Registrar, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram.
Contemnor(s) CONT P NO. 4074 of 2024
K. Ravichandran,
S/o Kaliyaperumal,
Plot No 6, Annex 12, Muthaiya Nagar, Annamalai Nagar, C. Kothangudi, Cuddalore.
Petitioner(s)
Vs
Dr. M. Prakash,
The Registrar, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar,
Chidambaram.
Contemnor(s)
CONT P NO. 4075 of 2024
R. Ravi,
S/o.R.Rajamani,
3/23 Thuravadi Street,
Chidambaram-608001
Petitioner(s)
Vs
Dr. M. Prakash,
The Registrar,
Annamalai University,
Annamalai Nagar,
Chidambaram.
Contemnor(s)
For Petitioner(s): Mr.M.Muruganantham
For Contemnor(s): Mr.S.Sithirai Anandan, Standing Counsel
COMMON ORDER
The Registrar, Annamalai University was present at the time of hearing.
2.These contempt petitions have been filed on the ground that the common order passed by this Court in WP.Nos.23686 etc., of 2024 dated 19.10.2024 has not been complied with.
3.When these contempt petitions came up for hearing on 21.02.2025, this Court passed the following order:
When the matter was taken up for hearing today, it was brought to the notice of this Court that the orders that were passed in the writ petitions was confirmed by the Division Bench in W.A.Nos.49, 51, 52, 117, 144, 148, 149, 150 and 283 of 2025 dated 17.02.2025.
2.In view of the same, the learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent University seeks for some time to comply with the orders passed in the writ petitions.
3.Post these contempt petitions under the caption ‘For Reporting Compliance’ on 01.04.2025 at 2.15 p.m.
4.The contempt petitions were again listed for hearing on 01.04.2025 and the following order came to be passed by this Court:
When the matter was taken up for hearing today, the learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the Annamalai University submitted that steps are being taken to file a SLP before the Hon’ble Apex Court. Hence, he sought for some more time.
2.In the considered view of this Court, this Court while exercising contempt jurisdiction is more interested in the orders passed by the Court being complied with. If at all any steps are being taken to file SLP, the order can be complied with subject to the result in the SLP.
3.Post these cases under the same caption finally on 21.04.2025 at 02.15 PM.
5.The case was again posted on 21.4.2025 and the following order was passed by this Court:
Post these contempt petitions under the same caption finally on 28.04.2025 at 2.15 p.m. It is made clear that if the order is not complied with by then, the respondent shall be present before this Court.
6.The case was again listed on 28.4.2025 and the following order came to be passed by this Court:
When the mater was taken up for hearing today, it was brought to the notice of this Court that Special Leave Petitions were dismissed by the Apex Court today.
2.The learned Standing Counsel produced the written instructions received from the respondent to the effect that the order passed by this Court in the writ petitions will be complied with.
3.This Court had specifically directed the respondent to be present before the Court today and the respondent is not present. Hence, post these contempt petitions on 30.04.2025 and the respondent shall be present before this Court.
7.The matter was again listed for hearing on 06.06.2025 and based on the submission made by the learned Standing Counsel, the following order came to be passed:
The learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the Annamalai University submitted that the University requires ten days time to report compliance of the order passed by this Court.
2. In the light of the above submission, post these Contempt Petitions under the caption “for reporting compliance” on 23.06.2025 at 02.15 p.m.
8.The case was again listed for hearing on 23.6.2025 and once again based on the submission made by the learned Standing Counsel, the following order came to be passed by this Court:
Dr.M.Prakash, the Registrar, Annamalai University appeared in person at the time of hearing.
2. The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent University submitted that within three days, orders of this Court will be complied with.
3. Post these contempt petitions on 27.06.2025 at 2.15 P.M. under the caption ‘for reporting compliance’.
9.The case was again listed for hearing on 27.6.2025 and the following order came to be passed by this Court:
When these matters were taken up for hearing today, Dr.M.Prakash, Registrar, Annamalai University was present before this Court.
2. The learned Standing Counsel for Annamalai University submitted that the University has withdrawn the earlier order passed.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the consequential orders have not been passed and the amount payable to the petitioners have not been paid and therefore, till date the orders passed by this Court was not complied with.
4. The Registrar, who was present before this Court states that within four weeks the entire order will be complied with and it will be reported to his Court.
5. Post these contempt petitions finally on 04.08.2025 at 02.15 p.m. In the meantime, if the order is not complied with, the Registrar of Annamalai
University shall be present before this Court.
10.When the matter was taken up for hearing today, the learned Standing Counsel submitted that four weeks time is required to report compliance of the order. This submission was made on the ground that there is no Vice Chancellor available for the University to take a decision.
11.The above submission made by the learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the University is unsustainable and unacceptable for this Court for the simple reason that earlier a status report was filed by the Registrar on 6.6.2025 wherein at paragraph No.6 of the status report, the following stand was taken:
6. I respectfully submit that in the interregnum the term of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor of Annamalai University got expired on
23.11.2024. Hence, the Syndicate in it Resolution No.1 dated
21.11.2024 has resolved to constitute a Vice-Chancellor Convener
Committee with the following members to carry out the day to day functions of the Vice-Chancellor from 24.11.2024 till a new Vice-
Chancellor assumes Office:-
12.It is also relevant to take note of the paragraph No.9 in the status report and the same is extracted hereunder:
9.Further steps are processing now by the University and this entire process will be completed within 10 days. Based on the directions of this Hon’ble Court, effective measures are taken by the
Annamalai University to implement the Orders of this Hon’ble Court and such there is no intention on the part of the respondent to disobey the order passed by this Hon’ble Court.
13.In the considered view of this Court, the respondent University is attempting to postpone the compliance of the orders passed by this Court by coming up with a new ground every time. The above orders passed by this Court based on the undertaking given by the University shows that the present stand taken by the Registrar of the University tantamounts to contumacious conduct. Therefore, this Court is inclined to proceed further and pass orders in these contempt petitions.
14.The learned Standing Counsel on reading the mind of this Court requested this Court to list the contempt petitions for hearing on Friday and in the meantime the order passed by this Court in the batch of writ petitions will be complied with.
15.Considering the above submission, for the present, this Court is only postponing rendering a finding regarding the contempt committed by the Registrar of the University and awarding the appropriate sentence on the said Officer. If on 08.08.2025 the order passed in the batch of writ petitions is not complied with, this Court will proceed further to hold the respondent for contempt of Court and also pass the sentence on the same day.
16.The Registrar of Annamalai University is directed to be present on 08.08.2025 at 2.15 p.m.
04.08-2025 kp
To
The Registrar,
Annamalai University,
Annamalai Nagar,
Chidambaram.
N.ANAND VENKATESH,J.,
kp
CONT P NO. 4067 of 2024,
CONT P NO. 4071 OF 2024,CONT
P NO. 4068 OF 2024,CONT P NO.
4069 OF 2024,CONT P NO. 4070 OF
2024,CONT P NO. 4072 OF
2024,CONT P NO. 4073 OF 2024,CONT P NO. 4074 OF 2024 and CONT P NO. 4075 OF 2024
04.08.2025
