REENA JOY Vs. GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) PETITIONS filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issue of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus for the reasons stated therein. Heard S.Silambanan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners in all the petitions, Mr.G.Sankaran, learned Special Government Pleader (Education) appearing for the State of Tamil Nadu, Mr.AR.L.Sundaresan, learned senior counsel appearing with Ms.AL.Gandhimathi, learned counsel, for Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R Medical University and Mr.Issac Mohanlal, learned counsel appearing for M/s.Global Nursing College.

(2.) THE petitioners, who are the students of Nursing, the State of Tamil Nadu and Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R Medical University are the main parties to these writ petitions. Learned counsel appearing for the parties request that these writ petitions be taken up on the Board of this Bench, and accordingly the writ petitions and the writ appeals are taken up, heard and are being disposed of at the admission stage itself.

(3.) IT appears that passing of this Government Order led to representations from the students and their parents, which paved the way for passing of subsequent G.O.(Ms.) No.216 by the State Government on 03.07.2008. The G.O itself points out in paragraph-2 that representations were received by the Government from the public, which contained two submissions. The first is that the age limit be increased from 17 to 35 for Diploma in Nursing and B.Sc Nursing Courses and the second is that all +2 students irrespective of the subject may be considered as eligible for admission in Nursing Courses in Tamil Nadu. In paragraph-3 of G.O.Ms.No.216, the Government has extended the age limit to 30 years for the General Category candidates and for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates to 35 years. As far as the representation on subjects is concerned, Clause-4 of the G.O is relevant, and which reads as follows:- "4.To enable the rural candidates to join the Nursing Courses and to fall in line with the procedure followed in other States, it has been decided that +2 pass with Science subject may be fixed for admission to B.Sc Nursing and Diploma in Nursing Courses." Clause-5 of the G.O, which is also relevant, reads as follows: -