The Maternal And Child Health Officers Association, v. The Additional Chief Secretary,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

Dated : 02.03.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE Ms. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA W.P.No. 7479 of 2026 The Maternal and Child Health Officer's Association Represented by its President Mrs.D.GIory Suramanjary, Royal Castle Apartments, 702 - E Block, Thirumudivakkam, Chennai 600132

...Petitioner

Vs.

1.The Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family welfare Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai-9.

2.The Director, Directorate of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, DMS Complex, 259, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai-6.

...Respondents

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Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Section 226 of the Constitution of India for issue of Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st respondent herein to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 24.08.2025 for up gradation of the petitioner's cadre.

For Petitioner :

Mr. R.Sivakumar For Respondent :

Mr. M.Bindran Additional Government Pleader

O R D E R

This writ petition is filed for the following relief: "To direct the 1st respondent herein to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 24.08.2025 for up gradation of the petitioner's cadre."

2. The petitioner is the association representing the Maternal and Child Health Officers working in all the 45 Health Units in Tamilnadu. The petitioner association was established on 30.07.2021 for their welfare.

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3. It is their case that the Maternal Child Health Officers (MCHOs) are working as a District Maternal Child Health Officers (DMCHOs) with the same scale of pay in the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in the Districts, under the immediate control of the District Health Officer of Health Services in the 45 Health Unit Districts. It is their further case that MCHOs get promotion i.e., Nursing Officer Principal Post, Joint State Maternal and Child Health Officer post and State Maternal and Child Health Officer post just before their retirement after 30 years of service.

4. The petitioner would submit that most of them retired without a single promotion. Therefore, the petitioner association has made a representation to the 1st and 2nd respondents for upgradation of their cadre on par with their counterparts on several dates and the last of which was made on 24.08.2025. Since there is no response, the petitioner association is before this Court.

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5. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the 1st respondent is directed to consider the petitioner's representation and pass orders on merits, within a period of 2 months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, after affording an opportunity of personal hearing to the office bearers of the petitioner association.

6. With the above direction, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

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To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family welfare Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai-9.

2.The Director, Directorate of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, DMS Complex, 259, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai-6.

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P.T. ASHA, J kan 02.03.2026 6/6