MADURAI: The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Wednesday transferred a plea -- challenging a GO passed by the Tamil Nadu government appointing a panel to probe allegations against Anna University vice-chancellor (VC) M K Surappa -- to the principal seat since the VC has filed an impleading petition in the case.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Manithanigai Kumar, a resident of Kanyakumari district who challenged the GO passed by the state government to initiate a probe against Surappa.
Surappa had filed a petition seeking to implead him as a party in the case.
Opposing the impleading petition, advocate general Vijay Narayan submitted that since it is a public interest litigation, the VC cannot seek any relief. He submitted that the petitioner had filed this petition at the instance of Surappa and it is a case of forum shopping. He further submitted that HC Madurai bench does not have jurisdiction to hear this case.
The counsel appearing for the VC submitted that since the GO was passed to inquire into the allegation against him, interest of justice would be served only if he is heard.
The counsel appearing for the petitioner also submitted that it is necessary to implead the VC as a party in this case as the issue revolves around him.
Taking cognizance of the submissions, a division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice B Pugalendhi observed that since the VC is the subject matter in the petition, it is required to implead him in the interest of justice. The judges observed that no prejudice would be caused to the government or the petitioner if the VC is impleaded and it would only help the court to adjudicate this matter.
Hence, the judges allowed the impleading petition and impleaded Surappa as the second petitioner in this case. The judges observed that a perusal of the impleading petition shows that the VC had challenged the GO by raising several grounds.
The judges noted that Madurai bench would have jurisdiction to hear the petition if the VC had not filed an impleading petition and since VC had filed an impleading petition, the principal seat alone has jurisdiction to hear the case.