Background of the Case

The petitioner, Dr. N. Ponpandian, challenged an order dated October 22, 2025, which replaced him as the Head of the Department (HoD) of Nano Science and Technology and appointed Dr. R.T. Rajendra Kumar in his place. The petitioner argued that as the senior-most professor, he had a legal right to continue holding the HoD post.

Core Arguments Presented by Mr. I. Calvin Jones

On behalf of Bharathiar University, Mr. I. Calvin Jones successfully defended the administration's decision by presenting the following legal grounds:

• 1

  Strict Adherence to Section 45(3) of the Act

  While Section 45(1) outlines seniority for initial appointments, Section 45(3) limits the tenure of a Head of Department to exactly three years.

• 2

  No Endless Re-appointments

  Although the Act mentions eligibility for re-appointment, it cannot be interpreted as an absolute right to hold a tenure endlessly. The petitioner had already served continuously for over ten years (since July 1, 2015).

• 3

  Compliance with Government Policy

  Cited the directives issued during the Higher Education Department meeting on May 15, 2025. The Secretary to Government explicitly instructed all state universities to adopt a strict three-year rotation system for HoD positions.

• 4

  Promotion of Equal Opportunity

  Demonstrated that a rotational system prevents a single individual from blocking opportunities for other eligible, aspiring senior professors, thereby enhancing overall institutional and departmental efficiency.