RAMESH N. Vs. SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr.N.G.R.Prasad, the learned Senior counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mrs.P.Kavitha, the learned Government Advocate, who accepts notice on behalf of the respondents. With the consent of the learned counsel on either side, the Writ Petition is taken up for disposal.

(2.) The case of the petitioner is that he is working as a Secondary Grade Teacher in a School under the School Education Department of the Government of Tamilnadu, located in Vellore District, since from the year 2014. During the general transfer counselling for the year 2018-2019, teachers posted in the Vellore District are not allowed for transfer counselling. For the same, the petitioner is unable to move out of the District though he is eagerly waiting for his transfer to Chennai District, which is his native District and he has rendered service for the required period making him eligible to participate of such transfer counselling. According to the petitioner, the order of the Government, not to include the District of Vellore in transfer counselling is discriminatory. Hence, he came to file this writ petition seeking a direction to allow the petitioner to participate in the transfer counselling, by directing the respondents including the teachers posted District of Vellore in the transfer counselling.

(3.) Counter affidavit has been filed, indicating the fact that in the Government Order for transfer counselling not only the teachers posted in the District of Vellore but 7 more Districts have been excluded, considering the fact that there is paucity of teachers in those Districts. Hence, teachers posted there are not allowed to move out of the District though have rendered required service by allowing them to participate in the transfer counselling. However, teachers from other Districts are allowed to be posted in those 8 Districts. The aforesaid being a policy decision of the Government considering the paucity of teachers and in the interest of the pupils, this writ petition filed challenging such policy decision and seeking the relief is deviod of merit.