IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 04.02.2011 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD K.SHARMA W.P.Nos.10847, 10940, 10946, 10989, 11396, 12725, 12739, 13039, 14603, 14612, 15954, 16149, 18937, 18946, 19141, 20611 and 20846 of 2010 and W.P.Nos.11124, 11235, 15891, 18456, 22051 of 2010 1. M.Manohar 2. P.T.Malarvizhi 3. P.Amutha 4. K.Vijayakumari 5. S.Punihavalli 6. A.Arularasi 7. S.Selvi ... Petitioners in W.P.No.10847/10 1. S.SENTHIL KUMAR 2. P.MAILSAMY 3. M.RAMESH 4. C.TAMILSELVI 5. C.KALAIVANI 6. M.INDIRA 7. R.GEETHA 8. S.MANIKANDAN 9. J.GEETHA 10.K.JAYANTHI 11.ANBU SELVI 12.N.KAVITHA 13.T.VENKATRAMAN 14. A.P.GANDHIMATHI 15. P.VIJAYALAKSHMI 16. A.SAVITHRI 17. S.ANIDHA 18. T.IRANI 19. S.GOWRI 20. N.GNANASEKARAN 21. A.ABDUL AZEEZ 22. C.SENTHILKUMAR 23. S.MALARVIZHI 24. G.ARUL DAVID RAJ 25. H.SWAMINATHAN 26. N.KRISHNAVENI 27. D.SIVAKUMAR ..PETITIONERS IN WP.10940/2010 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 1. N.UHIRAPATHI 2. S.KASTHURI 3. J.SHINY 4. C.DHANALAKSHMI 5. S.SUMATHI 6. V.SRIVIDHYA 7. B. GNANAMBAL 8. V.YOGAVALLI 9. A.VENKATESAN 10.A. JUSTIN 11.I.HASEEN BANU 12.D.ARUN 13.M.GEETHA 14.K.MANIKANDAN 15. V.M.MANIMEGALAI 16. V.M.MALA 17. J.THULASI 18. S.MURUGESAN 19. P.RAJASEKARAN 20. A.MARY EDVIJIN 21. V.BHUVANESWARI 22. R.CHANDRA 23. V.SRINIVASAN 24. S.CHITRA 25. V.A.SANTHI 26. S.TAMILARASI 27. P.POONKUZHALI 28. B. SOMASUNDARAM 29. V.AJEETHA MAHADEVI 30. M.JOTHI 31. V.ILANGOVAN 32. K.SELVAM 33. C.JAYA 34. S.DEVI 35. I.ARUL ALEXANDAR 36. S.SHANMUGASUNDARAM 37. A.EMALDA MERLIN 38. V.ANBALAGAN 39. C.GOVINDARAJU 40. M.CHITRA 41. A.MARIMUTHU 42. S.INDIRA 43. G.VIJAYAKUMAR 44. R.VENNILA 45. M.BANUMATHI 46. K.DEVI BALA 47. A.VENKATESAN https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 48. K.RAJATHI 49. A.MOHANA 50. R.DURAI 51. R.PREMA 52. M.J.JESINTHA 53. T.MURUGANANDHAM DT 54. B.THAMARAI SELVI 55. S.MEENAMBIKA 56. R.TAMIL SELVI 57. I.MICHAEL RAJ 58. P. VALAVAN RAJ 59. R. JOHNSON JESURAJ 60. P.MANOHARI 61. V. LAKSHMI 62. V.GOKILA 63. M. SUDHA 64. B.VASANTHA LATHA 65. K. KAVITHA 66. M. JAILATHA 67. B. SENTHIL KUMAR 68. R. MATHAVI 69. C. DHARANI 70. V. GOVINDARAJ ..PETITIONER IN WP.10946/2010 1. J.MAGDALENE SAKAYA RANI 2 G.K.VARADHARAJAN 3 R.SESU SELVAKUMAR 4 M. AROCKIASAMY 5. V.K. MANJULA 6. B. SYED BADHUSHA 7. K. THIRUVATHAL 8. P. MURUGESAN 9. S.SANTHI 10.G.PREMA 11. PALANI MURUGAN 12 A.RAJA 13. K.BABU 14. H.K.SUBRAMANIAN 15 S.VIJAYALAKSHMI 16. M.PARTHASARATHY 17 J.MOHANA SELVI 18. L. KUMAR 19. EMILI ESTHER RANI 20 K.THIRUMAGAL 21. C.SAKTHI KUMARI 22. P.ANANDHI 23. M.LOGANATHAN 24. R.PANNEERSELVAM https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 25. V.KAMALAM 26. V.R.SAKTHIVEL 27. N.JOTHILAKSHMI 28 G.ANGULATHA 29. P.PARIMARAM 30. S.P. ANANDHAN 31. C.DEVANESAN 32. L.NANDAGOPALAKRISHNAN 33. G.RAMAKRISHNAN 34. A.VIJAYGANESH 35. S.VALLI 36. M.RANI 37. P.DEVI 38. R. UMAMAHESWARI 39. S.VASUKI 40. N.NIRMALA ..Petitioner in W.P.10989/2010 1. M. BHWANESWARI 2. S.GANDHIMATHI 3. M. POOSAIKANNU 4. M. MURUGANATHAN 5. S.R. LAXMI 6. I. GEROSE JAYANTHI 7. A. REXALINE 8. L. VASANTHI 9. M. DHAMODHARAN 10. J. JAIVANTHI 11.P. ELIZABETH 12. S. MALARVIZHI 13. K. SANTHAMALAR 14. S. KAVITHA @ RASEENA ARSHIYA 15. V. MUTHAKGU 16. G. ARUL DAVID RAJ 17. S. SHEEBARANI 18. R. KALAIARASAN 19. G. KAVITHA 20.K. NIRMAL KUMAR 21. S. RAVICHANDRAN 22. S. SUDHA 23. G. MAHALAKSHMI 24. C. SRIRAMAN 25. S. ARULSHANTHARAJ 26. V. HEMALATHA 27. N.R. ABIRAMI 28. M. KAVITHA 29. A. PANNEERSELVAM 30. M. SHIVAKUMAR https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 31. R. PRABAKARAN 32. S. INDIRA GANDHI 33. A. KANAGAVALLI 34. I.USHANANDHINI 35. J.NEELAVATHI 36 K.MADHAVAN 37 K.CHRISTIRAJA 38 K.UMA 39 R.ANNARAJ 40 S.SUGUNA 41 SYED RAHAMTHUNNISA 42 C.CHITRA 43 A.ANTHONY MARY 44 J.MALARVIZHI 45 D.PANDIYARAJAN 46 D.ADAIKALAM 47 C.VENNILA 48 K.T.G.NEDUNCHERALATHAN 49 G.REVATHI 50 V.NARAYANAN 51 M.MOHAN 52 K.S.JOTHI LAKSHMI 53 P.RAVINDRAN 54 A.SUBRAMANI 55 V.VENKATESALU 56 M.SAMINATHAN 57 V.KRISHNAIAH 58 S.SHAMEEM 59 R.VELAYUDHAM PILLAI 60 R.PANDIARAJ 61 D.SHANTHI 62 A.SAHAYA GNANA LISI 63 A.HILDAMARY 64 K.KRISHNAVENI 65 M.LATHA 66 J.GAYATHRI 67 P.XAVIER 68 A.ANGELIN SAGAYA RANI 69 D.HELEN VICTORIA 70 S.THAMIZHARASI 71 N.RADHAMANI 72 H.SAMINATHAN 73 T.M.JOTHI 74 V.RAMA 75 S.PUSHPA BHAI 76 V.VEDHANAYAKI ..PETITIONERS IN WP 11396/2010 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 1.T.K.SANTHI 2.K.PREMA 3.S.JOHN PETER 4.V.SATHYAMURTHY ..PETITIONERS IN WP 12725/2010 1 M.KUMUDHA 2 T.SURESH KUMAR 3 S.JEEVANANTHAM 4 M.RAJAMOHAN 5 T.VIJAYAKUMAR 6 S.STEPHEN DHANARAJ 7 P.MAHESWARI 8 S.KAVITHA 9 V.CHITRA 10 P.MILTON SOBHANA SINGH 11 R.GEETHA 12 P.JAMUNA 13 S.JAYASHRI 14 P.KANNAN 15 S.USHA 16 P.E.GOWRI 17 G.MUTHUNAGAI 18 D.SHANMUGASUNDARAM 19 A.R.UMASHANKAR 20 S.JULIA 21 G.BABU 22 S.SHANKARI 23 A.JULI 24 S.VIJAYALAKSHMI 25 C.VICTOR THOMAS 26 V.VEDANAYAGI 27 A.JOHN WILLIAM 28 M.JAYALAKSHMI 29 B.MAHALAKSHMI 30 R.AARTHI 31 T.MANORANJITHAM 32 V.VINOTHINI 33 T.RAVIKUMAR 34 R.USHA 35 S.ANURADHA 36 R.JEYANTHI 37 K.USHA RANI 38 A.RAJASEKAR 39 P.SUBBULAKSHMI 40 P.SAKILA ..PEPTITIONERS IN WP 12739/2010 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ P.SAMUEL RAJAKUMAR ..PEPTITIONERS IN WP 13039/2010 V.SASIKALA ..PEPTITIONERS IN WP 14603/2010 R.GOPANNA ..PEPTITIONERS IN WP 14612/2010 Smt.S.Alphons ... Petitioner in W.P.15954/2010 K.Sudharani ... Petitioner in W.P.16149/2010 Sudha Santhi ... Petitioner in W.P.18937/2010 S.Jayaraj ... Petitioner in W.P.18946/2010 G.Lalli ... Petitioner in W.P.19141/2010 S.Alamelumangai ... Petitioner in W.P.20611/2010 1.M.Usha Rani 2.G.Gunasekaran 3.V.Ilaiyabharathi ... Petitioner in W.P.20846/2010 1.M.Geetha 2.S.Kala 3.K.S.Geethanjali ... Petitioner in W.P.11124/2010 V.Narayanan ... Petitioner in W.P.11235/2010 1.P.T.Gopalakrishnan 2.K.Purushothaman 3.A.Saradha 4.P.Jayaseeli 5.J.Jayachitra 6.S.Sumathi 7.K.Sathiyamoorthy 8.K.Ilango 9.C.Satheesh 10.N.Malarvizhi 11.K.Kalaivani 12.C.Latha 13.P.Mageswari ... Petitioner in W.P.15891/2010 V.Ramesh ... Petitioner in W.P.18456/2010 1.G.Bharathi 2.R.Rani 3.R.Aandal 4.M.Santhanalakshmi ... Petitioner in W.P.22051/2010 Vs. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 1. The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. By the Secretary, Dept. of Education, Fort St. George, Chennai 9. ...I Respondent in all Wps 2. The Director of School Education, College Road, Chennai. ..2nd Respondent in W.P.10847,10940, 10946, 11396, 12725, 14603, 14612, 15954, 16149, 20611, 20846, 11235, 15891, 18456/2010 2. The Director of Elementary School Education, College Road, Chennai. ... 2nd Respondent in W.P.10989/2010, 12739, 13039, 18937, 18946, 19141, 11124, 22051/10 3. The Registrar, SASTRA University, Tanjavur 613 402. ...3rd Respondent in all W.Ps. 4.The Registrar University of Madras Chepauk, Chennai -5 ...4th Respondent in W.P.13039/2010 (R.4 implead as per order dated 16.11.2010 in W.P.13039/2010) W.P.10847, 10946, 11396, 12725, 12739, 13039, 14603, 14612, 15954, 16149/2010 The batch of writ petitions have been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ in the nature of of mandamus directing the second/third respondent respectively, to give all benefits to the petitioners as applicable to B.T. Assistants and consequently include their educational qualification in the Service Register, give incentives and increments and include the names of the petitioners in the panel for promotion and in the counseling. WP 10940/2010,11124,15891/2010 directing the 2nd respondent and his subordinates to include the names of the petitioners in the panel for promotion of teachers and consequently include them in the counseling for promotion. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ WP 10989/2010 directing the 2nd respondent and his subordinates to include the names of the petitioners in the panel for promotion of teachers and consequently include them in the counseling for promotion for the year 2010-2011. WP 18937,18946,19141/2010 directing the 2nd respondent and his subordinates to include the name of the petitioners in the panel for promotion of Teachers and consequently include the petitioner in the counseling for promotion and grant all other benefits as are applicable to B.T Assistants. WP 18456/2010 directing the second respondent and his subordinates to include the name of the petitioner in the panel for promotion of teachers and consequently include them in the counseling for promotion and give increments incentives and all other benefits entitled. WP 20611/2010,20846,22051/2010 directing the second respondent and his subordinates to include the name of the petitioner in their respective service register and give all benefits. (WP 20611/2010) and incentives those are entitled by the petitioners as per service rules and consequently include their names in the counseling for promotion that would be conducted in future. (WP 20846/2010 and 22051/2010) W.P.No.11235/2010 directing the 2nd Respondent and his subordinates to include the name of the petitioner in the panel for promotion of teachers as B.T.Assistant and consequently include him in the counseling for promotion. For petitioners : Mr.R.Yashodvaradhan, S.C. for Mr.K.Chandrasekaran & : M/s.N.Balaji & K.Kannan For respondents-1-2 : Mr.G.Sankaran, S.G.P.(Edn)& Mrs.E.Ranganayagi, G.A. For respondent-3 : Mr.G.Rajagopalan, S.C. for M/s.G.R.Associates https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ COMMON ORDER As the common question of law and facts are involved in all these writ petitions, common order is being passed. For the sake of brevity, facts have been taken from W.P.No.10847 of 2010. 2 The petitioners in all these writ petitions are Secondary Grade teachers working in various schools in the State of Tamilnadu. The petitioners in order to acquire higher educational qualification applied to the District Educational Officer in the district and the teachers employed in Corporation Schools applied to the Educational Officer of the Corporation for permission to join in the Distance Education Course called the Distance mode conducted by SASTRA University, Tanjavur. SASTRA University is a Deemed University recognised by University Grants Commission in the year 2001. The University is also approved by the National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE). The Southern Regional Committee of NCTE in 131st meeting held on 11.04.2007 also granted conditional recognition for awarding the degree of B.Ed. Distance Education. 3. The petitioners applied for permission to pursue their course in distance education by specifically mentioning the name of the institution in the application. The application form had a column for disclosing as to whether the institution which conducted District Education has got approval of statutory authority. 4. The case of the petitioners is that the authorities gave permission, only after satisfying themselves with regard to degree awarded by the SASTRA University. 5. It is pleaded case of the petitioners that Southern Regional Committee of NCTE in its website disclosed that SASTRA University is a recognised University. In addition to the Distance Education courses by SASTRA University, various other Universities in Tamilnadu are also conducting such Distance Education in B.Ed. 6. In pursuance to the permission granted by the competent authority, the petitioners undertook two years course. The syllabus prescribed for the degree of B.Ed. is one prescribed and following by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). The SASTRA University is also recognised by the Distance Education Council of Indira Gandhi National Open University. 7. The case of the petitioners is that the SASTRA University had got approval from all statutory bodies for conducting B.Ed. Course (Distance Education mode). The petitioners have also undergone personal contact programme conducted by the https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ SASTRA University and therefore the petitioners claim to have a valid Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree. 8. The pleaded case of the petitioners is that on receipt of B.Ed. Degree, they applied through proper channel to the Director of School Education to enter their educational qualification in their respective Service Registers. 9. On 10.01.1969, State of Tamil Nadu issued G.O.Ms.No.42 for grant of incentive payment and increments to teachers in schools who acquire higher educational qualifications. In the G.O., teachers were categorized as Secondary or Senior Basic Grade teachers, and on attaining higher educational qualifications, these teachers were to be given incentive as applicable to B.T. or B.Ed. teachers. In addition, there were seven other categories for which incentives were granted on attaining higher educational qualifications. 10. In addition, in G.O.Ms.No.42, other categories are also shown which are entitled to incentives on attaining respective higher educational qualification. 11. The case of the petitioners is that even in the year 1969, on acquiring qualification of B.T. or B.Ed. teacher was entitled to incentives and increments. 12. The case of the petitioners is that as the SASTRA University is in Tamilnadu and the petitioners have obtained higher educational qualifications, they are entitled to the benefit of G.O.Ms.No.42. 13. It is also pleaded in the affidavit that Regional Director of NCTE had affirmed the competency of SASTRA University to conduct Distance Education in B.Ed. Course. The Regional Director of NCTE had recognised the B.Ed. Degree granted by the SASTRA University to be equivalent to the degree granted by the Madras University, Bharathidasan University, Madurai Kamaraj University, etc. in Tamil Nadu. The petitioner therefore claims that on acquiring qualification of B.Ed. degree from SASTRA University, they are entitled to the grant of incentives and increment as per G.O.Ms.No.42 as modified from time to time. 14. It is also pleaded that for promotion of teachers all over Tamil Nadu, a panel of names is prepared, published and counseling is conducted by the Director of School Education at various places, the persons who acquire higher qualifications are entitled to be in panel for consideration of promotion. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 15. The case of the petitioner is that even though the petitioners have passed out from recognised University and obtained valid degree in B.Ed., their qualification has not been entered in the Service Register and accordingly, they have been denied incentives and increments, nor their names have been included in the panel for promotion, by treating them not having a recognised degree of B.Ed. 16. The petitioners pleaded that though some of the persons similarly situated had been granted benefit of B.Ed. qualification, but the petitioners have been denied, thereby petitioners are being discriminated viza viz. with similarly situated persons. 17. The petitioners have also pleaded that the respondents are estopped by their conduct to deny recognition of B.Ed. degree as the department after having satisfied itself, permitted the petitioners to undergo the study which they have undergone, therefore the department now cannot deny the benefit accruing from the degree of B.Ed. 18. The petitioners in support of the case have placed reliance on the judgment of this Court in W.P.No.292, 870 and 890 of 2010 filed by similarly situated teachers. The plea of legitimate expectation is also raised. 19. The case of the petitioners is that on awarding B.Ed. Degree, by the SASTRA University specific representations were made for entry of higher educational qualifications in the Service registers, but no action has been taken by the respondents, nor the petitioners have been granted benefit of incentives and increments nor their names have been included in the panel for promotion, etc. 20. On the facts pleaded herein above, the petitioners have prayed for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the second or the third respondent respectively, to give all benefits to the petitioners as applicable to the B.T. Assistants, and also to include their educational qualifications in Service Register and grant of incentives and increments and other consequential benefits flowing therefrom. 21. The respondents contested the writ petitions by filing counter. The stand taken in the counter is that mere Deemed University status by the University Grants Commission, or conditional recognition by the Southern Regional Committee of NCTE https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ to the SASTRA University, Tanjavur, cannot be a ground for granting recognition to degree by the State Government. 22. The stand of the respondents is that the procedure prescribed by the State Government is to be followed and it is thereafter, that the degree granted by the University can be recognised for purpose of appointment/promotion, etc. 23. The stand of the respondent is that the B.Ed. Degree of the petitioners is from a University which is not recognised by the Government. 24. It is also the stand taken in the counter that B.Ed. Degree awarded by Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi was treated by the State as equivalent to the B.Ed. Degree awarded by the Universities of Tamil Nadu for the purpose of appointment and promotion, only after the proposal was approved by the Educational Equivalence Committee constituted for the purpose by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission vide G.O.Ms.No.160 School Education (M2) Dept. dt.2.12.2004. 25. The stand taken in the counter further is that request has already been made to seek the recommendation of the Educational Equivalence Committee with regard to the eligibility of B.Ed. and other degrees awarded by the SASTRA University through Distance Education mode. It is only after such recommendation is received and approved that the petitioners can be considered for grant of benefits under G.O. But as on date, for want of recommendation by the Educational Equivalence committee, and approved by Government, the petitioners are not entitled to the relief claimed. 26. In view of the pleadings referred to above, the question for the determination in these writ petitions is:- "Whether B.Ed. Degree (Distance Education mode) awarded by the SASTRA University can be said to be a degree duly recognised by the State Government as equivalent to the B.Ed., entitling the petitioners to claim benefits of higher educational qualifications under G.O.Ms.No.42 and Service Rules ?" 27. In support of the question, the learned counsel for the petitioners placed reliance on the judgment of this Court in W.P.No.292, 870 and 890 of 2010 decided on 8.3.2010 (R.Saravanan, P.S.Ramanan and D.Vijaykumar Vs. The Director, Elementary Education and others) 28. The petitioners in these writ petitions had sought a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to enter https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ their additional qualification of B.Ed. Degree conferred by the SASTRA University, in the Service Registers as per the representation made to the District Elementary Educational Officer, and to grant of other benefits applicable to the petitioners. 29. The writ petitions were allowed by this Court by observing as under: "7. I have given my careful and anxious consideration to the rival contentions put forward by either side and also perused the entire materials available on record including the counter filed by the third respondent herein. 8. The crux of the question involved in this matter is to the affect that whether the petitioners are entitled to seek the relief of entering their additional qualification, viz., obtaining B.Ed., degree from the third respondent University in their Service registers. 9. The undisputed fact remains that all the three petitioners are qualified Secondary Grade Teachers and they have also obtained additional qualification of B.Ed., degree from the third respondent University. As far as the third respondent University is concerned, it is pertinent to note that the B.Ed., course offered by the said University is already recognised and approved by the National Council for Teacher Education and the Distance Education Council of IGNOU. It is also seen that the third respondent University further recognised and approved by the University grants Commission. Such being the position, this Court is of the considered view that there is absolutely no legal impediment for the respondents 1 and 2 to give the benefit of entering the additional qualification obtained by the petitioners, viz., B.Ed., from the third respondent University in their Service registers. Though the third respondent filed a counter to these petitions categorically stating that they are the Deemed University and the courses offered by the University are recognised and approved by the competent authorities, the respondents 1 and 2 stated in their counter that the B.Ed. Course offered by the third respondent University has not been https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ included in the approved list of the State Government and the first respondent has sent a proposal to the Government for consideration as per the office letter No.2599/M1/2009 dated 28.10.2009. 10. In view of such admitted position, this Court is of the considered view that there should not be any discrimination between the petitioners and other similarly placed candidates from other educational districts and there is absolutely, no justification for returning the applications of the petitioners sacking for the relief of entering their additional qualification in their Service registers. 11. For the abovesaid reasons, this Court is constrained to direct the respondents 1 and 2 to enter the additional qualification of B.Ed. Degree of the petitioners as conferred by the third respondent to them in the petitioners service registers in pursuance to the representation made to the second respondent dated 7.12.2009. it is made clear that the above said exercise shall be completed within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. With the above direction, these petitions are disposed of accordingly. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. No costs." 30. It was also the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioners that SASTRA Univesity became a University in April 2001 under Sec.3 of the University Grants Commission Act 1961 and therefore is a Deemed University functioning within the territory of Tamilnadu. The SASTRA University is also following the syllabus prescribed by the Indira Gandhi National Open University which is duly recognised. Therefore, there is no justification whatsoever to deny the claimed benefit to the petitioners, by alleging that SASTRA University is yet to be recognised by the State Government. 31. The learned counsel for the petitioners in support of the question, also placed reliance on G.O.Ms.No.180 dated 11.9.2010 which reads as under: https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ "Employees and Administrative Reforms Department (R ) G.O.No.180 Dated 11.09.2010 Is read Ref: 1. Letter No.31835/98/99 dated 27.99 from The Deputy General Manager of Tamilnadu State Chief Coperative Bank. 2. Letter nO.9931/RND-F1/ dated 25.05.2005 of the Secretary of Tamilnadu Government Public Service Commission. Order: The Deputy General Manager of Tamilnadu State Chief Cooperative Bank has written a letter to the Education Secretary asking for clarification about the recognition of degrees issued by various Universities. The degrees and post graduate degrees issued by Madurai Kamarajar University, Madurai and Annamalai University, Chidambaram through Open University system are treated on par with the degrees and post graduate degrees through Regular Stream. They are rcognized for purposes of appointment in Subordinate Service in Tamilnadu. The degres and Post Graduate Degrees issued by the University of Madras, Bharthiar University, Bharathidhasan University and Manonmaneeyam Sundaranar University, Thirunelveli under Open University system are not given due recognition for purposes for appointment in Public Service in Government of Tamilnadu. He has prayed for the release of a specific G.O. Or clarification from the Government of Tamilnadu. 2. The G.O.No.441, released on 20.12.93 by the Department of Employees and Administrative Reforms has appointed a Committee with Chairman of the Tamilnadu Public Service Commission as the Chair Person to go into the prayer of Deputy General Manager of the Tamilnadu State Chief Cooperative Bank for recommendations. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 3. The committee met on 3.5.2000. The matter was discussed in the committee. It has recommended after careful scrutiny to recognize the degrees diplomas and post graduate degrees issued by Universities in Tamilnadu under Open University system on part with the degrees, diplomas, and post graduate degrees through regular stream. The recommendation was submitted and forwarded to the Government of Tamilnadu for approval. 4. The Government of Tamilnadu after serious discussion has decided to accept the recommendations of the committee with the Chairman of Tamilnadu Public Service Commission as Chair person and passed order. The Universities in Tamilnadu which are recognized by the University grants commission are conducting degrees, diplomas, and post graduate programmes under Open University system. These degrees diplomas and Post graduate degrees under Open University system are recognized for purpose of appointment in Tamilnadu Public Service on par with the degrees diplomas and post graduate degrees under regular stream." 32. The learned counsel for the petitioners thereafter placed reliance on the notification issued by the University Grants Commission declaring that SASTRA University is a Deemed University. The notification reads as under: "UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION BAHADUR SHA ZAFAR MAG. NEW DELHI 110 001. F.6-8/2000(CPP-I) 15.06.2001 NOTIFICATION In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956) the Central Government on the recommendation of the Commission vide its Notification No.F.9-7/98-U-3 dated 26th April 2001 has declared the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA), Thanjavur as Deemed to be University for the purpose of the aforesaid Act with effect from 26th April 2001." https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 33. In addition, the learned counsel for the petitioners also placed reliance on the letter of University Madras, declaring B.Ed. Degree of the SASTRA University to be equivalent to the degree awarded by the University of Madras. One of the letter issued by the University of Madras reads as under: UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS Centenary Building, Chepauk, Chennai 600005 (Established under the Act of Incorporation XXVII of 1857 – Madras University Act 1923) (State University) ----------------------------------------------- OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION No.C & R III/E11/Recogn/Equi/B.Ed./2009/1196 25 AUG 2009 Sub: Issue of certificate regarding B.Ed. Degrees in Social Studies awarded by SASTRA University is equivalent to this University – reg. Ref: His request dated 08.08.2009. ------- He is informed that B.Ed., degree in Social Studies awarded by SASTRA University, Thanjavur has been recognized as equivalent to the corresponding degree of this University, provided he has passed the said degree after undergone 10+2+3+1 (or) 11+1+3+1 pattern of study and subject to condition that the NCTE and the Distance Education Council (DEC) should have approved the course for the purpose of appointment, promotion, registration in the employment exchange,