Ramya S v. The Medical Service Recruitment Board,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 29-01-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and WMP Nos. 2017 and 2019 of 2026 Ramya.S ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Medical Service Recruitment Board, Rep by its Secretary, 7th floor, DMS Building, No 359 Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai 600 006
2. The Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, No 75, Varadharajapuram Main Road, Chokkalingam Nagar, Teynampet, Chennai 600 006
3. The Board of Examination of Nurses Government of Puducherry, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, Old Maternity Hospital complex, Victor Simonel street, Puducherry 605 001.
4. The Tamil Nadu Nurse and Midwives Council, Rep by its President, No 140/56, Santhome High Road, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004 ..Respondent(s) Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st Respondent to permit the petitioner to participate in the certificate Verification and to appoint her in the post of Auxiliary Nursing Mid Wifery / Village Health Nurse in Tamil Nadu Public Health Subordinate Service.
For Petitioner(s):
K.Sasindran For Respondent(s):
Mr.K.Tippu Sulthan Government Advocate for R1 & R2 Mr.S.J.Mohd. Sathik for R4
ORDER
By consent of both parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.
2.This petition has been filed seeking a direction to the 1st Respondent to permit the petitioner to participate in the certificate verification process and consequently appoint her to the post of Auxiliary Nursing Mid Wifery / Village Health Nurse in the Tamil Nadu Public Health Subordinate Service. 3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner had completed the Certificate Course in Auxiliary Nursing MidWifery (ANM) at the College of Nursing - East Coast Institute of Medical Science - Puducherry, which is a recognised training institution under the 3rd respondent Board. Subsequently, she registered herself as an ANM with the 4th respondent Council. The petitioner is presently working as an ANM in a private hospital. Whileso, the 1st respondent Board issued a Recruitment Notification dated 11.10.
2023 inviting applications from eligible women candidates for appointment to the post of ANM / Village Health Nurse in the Tamil Nadu Public Health Subordinate Service.
examination. However, she was not called for certificate verification on the ground that the college in which she studied was not approved by the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, the 2nd respondent herein, which is unsustainable. When the petitioner approached the 1st respondent office, she was informed that she had completed the ANM course from an Institute situated in Pondicherry which was recognised by the 3rd respondent Board and the said certificate will not be accepted as a qualified certificate for consideration of appointment to the post of ANM in Tamil Nadu. Admittedly, the petitioner's College and course pursued by her were duly approved by the Indian Nursing Council as well as Tamil Nadu Nurses and Mid-Wives Council.
Once the competent authorities, namely, the Indian Nursing Council as well as Tamil Nadu Nurses and Mid-Wives Council, have granted approval, the same cannot be disregarded by 1st the respondent, and there is no requirement for any separate approval from the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Accordingly, he prayed to allow this writ petition. 4.
Public Health and Preventive Medicine. He further submits that unless it is established that the certificate awarded by the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, Puducherry, the 3rd respondent herein is recognised and approved by the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Tamil Nadu, mere approval by the Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council or the Indian Nursing Council would not suffice. According to the respondents, since the course completed by the petitioner was not approved by the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, the 2nd respondent herein, as required under Clause 6(B) of the Educational Qualification, the petitioner is not eligible. Therefore, the petitioner is not entitled to the relief sought. Accordingly, he prayed for dismissal of the writ petition. 5.Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials placed on record.
6. A perusal of Clause 6(B) of the Recruitment Notification makes it clear that the candidate must have undergone two years Multi-Purpose Health Workers (Female) training course / Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery Training Course awarded by the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. For better appreciation, the relevant portion of the Recruitment Notification issued by the 1st respondent is extracted hereunder:
6B. EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION:
* Candidate shall possess the following qualification on the date of this notification viz., 11.10.2023.
Sl.No.
Name of the Post Qualification 1.
Auxiliary Nurse Midwife/Village Health Nurse (i) Must have passed Higher Secondary (+2) (ii) must have undergone two years Multi-Purpose Health Workers (Female) training course / Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery Training Course awarded by the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, (iii) A certificate of registration issued by the Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council; and (iv) Must possess physical fitness for camp life. Provided that those who have undergone 18 months Multi- Purpose Health Workers (Female) Training Course / Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery Training Course awarded by the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and have passed S.S.L.C (10th standard) prior to 15.11.2012 are also eligible.
The said condition forms part of the essential educational qualification.
7. In the present case, though the petitioner completed the ANM course in an institution situated in Puducherry and the said institution is stated to have
been approved by the Indian Nursing Council as well as the Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council, it is an admitted fact that the course undergone by the petitioner was not approved by the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Tamil Nadu, as mandated under the Recruitment Notification. When the Recruitment Notification clearly stipulates the essential educational qualification and the requisite approval, the same is binding on all candidates and cannot be relaxed by this Court. Therefore, the petitioner has not made out any legal ground to challenge the non-inclusion of her name in the certificate verification list.
8. In view of the above, this Writ Petition stands dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 29-01-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order UMA
To
1. The Medical Service Recruitment Board, Rep by its Secretary, 7th floor, DMS building, No 359 Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai 600 006
2. The Director of Public health and preventive Meidcine, Directorate of Public Health and preventive Medicine, No 75, Varadharajapuram Main Road, Chokkalingam Nagar, Teynampet, Chennai 600 006
3. The Board of Examination of Nurses Government of Puducherry, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare services, Old Maternity Hospital complex, Victor Simonel street, Puducherry 605 001.
4. The Tamil nadu nurse and Midwive coucil, Rep by its President, No 140/56 Santhome High Road, Mylaproe, Chennai 600 004
M.DHANDAPANI J.
UMA and WMP Nos. 2017 and 2019 of 2026 29-01-2026