W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 06.01.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019 and W.M.P. (MD).No.18517, 18519 & 18520 of 2019, W.M.P.No.35750 of 2017 & M.P.Nos.1, 3 & 4 of 2015 W.P.No.16277 of 2015 1. The Latin Catholic Fisherman Educational Society, (Registration No.13/1978) Thoothoor, Vilavancode Taluk, Kanyakumari District, Rep. by its Secretary Fr.M.Stephen. 2. Fr.M.Ubald, (Aged 54 Years) S/o.Mariadasan, Vicar Forane, Colachel Vicariate, Agniswami Complex, Colachel, Kalkulam Taluk, Kanyakumari District. 3. Fr.M.Stephen, (Aged 43 Years) S/o.Mudiyappan, Parish Priest, St.Ignatius Church, Kurumpanai, Kalkulam Taluk, Kanyakumari District. ... Petitioners Vs 1. The Secretary, Government of Higher Education Department, Secretariate, Chennai – 600 009. 2. The Director of Collegiate Education, D.P.I.Campus, College Road, Chennai – 600 006. 3. The Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli -7. 1/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019 4. Rev.Fr.Sylvester Morais St.Joseph’s Church, Kazhakoottam, Tirvandrum, Trivandrum District. Kerala State. 5. Rev.Fr.Lucian Thomas, St.Mary’s Church, Vellavilai, Vilavankodu Taluk, Kanyakumari District. 6. The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District. ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the respondents 1 to 3 herein from any manner considering or granting recognition to the fifth respondent as the Secretary of the St.Jude’s College at Thoothoor in terms of the Tamil Nadu Private Colleges (Regulation) Act, 1976. For Petitioner : Mr.M.C.Govindan For Respondents : Mr.S.Senthil Murugan Special Government Pleader for R1 to R3 Mr.G.Sankaran, Senior Counsel assisted by Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan for R4 & R5 Mr.R.Subbaih Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for R6 W.P.(M.D) No. 21781 of 2019 Latin Catholic Fisherman Educational Society, Through its Secretary Rev.Fr.Laberin Yesu R, Having office at, St.Jude’s College Campus, Thoothoor, Kanyakumari. ... Petitioner Vs 2/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019 1. The Director of Collegiate Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, 9th Floor, EVK Sampath buildings, College Road, Chennai - 600 006. 2. The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Division, Tirunelveli. 3. The District Registrar of Societies, Marthandam, Kanyakumari District. 4. The Secretary, St.Jude’s College, Thoothor, Kanyakumari District. 5. Re.Fr.Sylvester Morais O President of Latin Catholic Fishermen Educational Society, Having address at, St.Jude’s College Campus, Thoothoor, Kanyakumari. ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to the impugned order of the first respondent in Moo.Mu.No.9014/F2/2015 dated 20.11.2018 and quash the same and consequently direct the first respondent to pass appropriate orders for payment of salary and administration of the college until a validly elected body assumes office of petitioner Society and nominates Secretary to the fourth respondent College, within time fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.H.Arumugam For Respondents : Mr.S.Senthil Murugan Special Government Pleader for R1 and R2 No appearance for R3 3/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019 Mr.G.Sankaran, Senior Counsel assisted by Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan for R5 & R6 W.P.Nos. 32409 of 2017 Rev.Fr.Francis D’Sales, The Secretary, Latin Catholic, Fisherman’s Educational Society, St.Jude’s College Campus, Thoothoor-629 176, Kanyakumari District. ... Petitioner Vs 1. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Fort St.George, Chennai – 600 009. 2. The Director of Collegiate Education, College Road, Chennai - 600 006. 3. The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District- 627 007. 4. The District Registrar of Societies, Marthandam, Kanyakumari District. 5. Rev.Fr.Sylvester Morais, St.Joseph’s Church, Kazhakoottam, Trivandrum, Kerala State. 6. Rev.Fr.Lucian Thomas, St.Mary’s Church, Vellavilai, Vilavankodu Taluk, Kanyakumari District. ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records relating to the impugned 4/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019 proceeding issued by the second respondent Director of Collegiate Education in Na.Ka.No.9014/AF2/2015 dated 20.11.2017 registering the sixth respondent as the Secretary of St.Jude’s College, Thoothoor, KK District, quash the same. For Petitioner : Ms.H.Mari Sommy Rexi for M/s.ISAAC Chambers For Respondents : Mr.S.Senthil Murugan Special Government Pleader for R1 to R4 Mr.G.Sankaran, Senior Counsel assisted by Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan for R5 & R6 COMMON ORDER When these matters came up for hearing, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that, in view of the efflux of time and subsequent events, nothing survives in the original prayer that is made in these writ petitions. 2. In view thereof, these writ petitions are dismissed as having become infructuous. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 06.01.2026 Neutral Citation: Yes/No nsl 5/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019 To 1. The Secretary, Government of Higher Education Department, Secretariate, Chennai – 600 009. 2. The Director of Collegiate Education, D.P.I.Campus, College Road, Chennai – 600 006. 3. The Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli -7. 4. The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District. 5. The Director of Collegiate Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, 9th Floor, EVK Sampath buildings, College Road, Chennai - 600 006. 6. The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Division, Tirunelveli. 7. The District Registrar of Societies, Marthandam, Kanyakumari District. 8. The Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Fort St.George, Chennai – 600 009. 9. The Director of Collegiate Education, College Road, Chennai - 600 006. 10. The Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District- 627 007. 11. The District Registrar of Societies, Marthandam, Kanyakumari District. 6/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019 D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J. nsl W.P.Nos. 16277 of 2015, 32409 of 2017 & W.P.(MD).No.21781 of 2019 06.01.2026 7/7 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis