G.Balaji, v. The State Of Tamil Nadu,
THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 18.12.2024
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE R.SUBRAMANIAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN W.P.Nos.6978, 6165, 6284, 5408, 7478, 7189, 6644, 6577, 6578, 7100, 7107, 9435, 9446, 7966 & 9237 of 2024 and W.P. (MD) Nos.6094, 6098 and 7650 of 2024 and W.M.P.Nos.7787, 7789, 6826, 6827, 6985, 5960, 5962,8374, 8376, 8037, 8044, 7389, 7390, 7299, 7302, 7303, 7306, 7947, 7984, 7954, 7955, 7986, 10438, 10440, 10442, 10443, 8935, 10272 & 10273 of 2024 and W.M.P.(MD) Nos.5728, 5729, 5731, 5739, 5740, 5742, 7001 and 7003 of W.P.No.6978 of 2024
1. G.Balaji
2. Kishore Kumar R
3. Anushiya.C
4. Divyadharshini
5. K.Kavitha
6. Kowsalya.G
7. M.Ramkumar
8. V.Vijaya
9. Vennila.M
10. Mahalakshmi.P
11. K.Nivedha
12. Sarumathi.M
13. L.Alex
14. S.Savari Raj
15. D.Dharshini 1/10
16. P.Sivagami
...Petitioners
Vs.
1. The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by the Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration & Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600005.
2. The Director, Directorate of Municipal Administration, No.75, Urban Administrative Building, Santhome High Road, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai - 600028.
...Respondents
Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the first respondent and declare that G.O.Ms.45, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department dated 12.04.2023 Part IIISpecial Rules relating to Tamil Nadu Municipal Corporation Service as embodied in Rule 211 of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023 in Table IV-Municipal Corporation Medical, Sanitation and Public Health Wing-Division II (Sanitotion)-S.No.2 Sanitary Inspector-insofar as it relates to direct recruitment, is arbitrary and hence, ultra vires the Constitution and declare it as illegal and unsustainable in law; and the consequential notification issued by the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department vide Notification No.01/DMA/Recruitment/2024 dated 2/10
02.02.2024 in Clause 6 Educational Qualification at S.No.16 and quash the same as illegal, Arbitrary, contrary to law and ultra vires to Article 14 of the Constitution of India.
For Petitioners in W.P.No.6978 of 2024 :
Mr. M.Nivas Gokul For Respondents in W.P.No.6978 of 2024 :
Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP (MAW) For Petitioners in W.P.No.6165 of 2024 :
Mr.A.Leeban For Respondents in W.P.No.6165 of 2024 :
Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP (for R1, R2, R4 & R5) Mr. A.Arun Babu, SC (for R3) Mr.Ma.Pa.Thangavel, SC R6) For Petitioners in W.P.No.6284 of 2024 :
Mr.N.Balamuralikrishnan For Respondents in W.P.No.6284 of 2024 :
Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP (for R1 to R4) Mr.A.Arun Babu, SC (for R5) Mr.Ma.Pa.Thangavel, SC R6) No appearance (for R7) For Petitioners in W.P.No.5408 of 2024 :
Mrs.N.Kavitha Rameshwar For Respondents in W.P.No.5408 of 2024 :
Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP (for R1 to R3 & R5) Mr.A.Arun Babu, SC (for R4) For Petitioners in W.P.No.7478 of 2024 :
Ms.G.Sumitra 3/10
For Respondents in W.P.No.7478 of 2024 :
Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP (for R1 to R3 & R5) Mr.A.Arun Babu, SC (for R4) For Petitioners in W.P.No.7189 of 2024 :
Mr. S.Ayyathurai For Respondents in W.P.No.7189 of 2024 :
Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP For Petitioners in W.P.No.6644 of 2024 :
Mr.A.Leeban For Respondents in W.P.No.6644 of 2024 :
Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP (for R1, R2, R4 & R5) Mr.A.Arun Babu, SC (for R3) Mr.Ma.Pa.Thangavel, SC (for R6) No appearance (for R7) For Petitioners in W.P.Nos.6577 & 6578 of 2024 :
Ms.M.Akila For Respondents in W.P.Nos.6577 & 6578 of 2024 :
Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP (for R1 to R3 & R5) Mr.A.Arun Babu, SC (for R4) For Petitioners in W.P.Nos.7100 & 7107 of 2024 :
C.Iyyapparaj For Respondents in W.P.Nos.7100 & 7107 of 2024 :
Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP (for R1, R2, R4 & R5) 4/10
Mr.A.Arun Babu, SC (for R3) Mr.Ma.Pa.Thangavel, SC (for R6) For Petitioners in W.P.Nos.9435 & 9446 of 2024 :
Mr.N.Suresh For Respondents in W.P.Nos.9435 & 9446 of 2024 :
Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP (for R1, R2, R3 & R5) Mr.A.Arun Babu, SC (for R4) For Petitioners in W.P.No.7966 of 2024 :
Mrs. Nalini Chidambaram, Senior Counsel for Mrs.C.Uma For Respondents in :
Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP (for R1, R2 & R4) Mr.A.Arun Babu, SC (for R3) Mr.Ma.Pa.Thangavel, SC (for R5) For Petitioner in W.P.No.9237 of 2024 :
Ms.G.Sumitra For Respondents in :
Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP (for R1 to R3 & R5) Mr.A.Arun Babu, SC (for R4) For Petitioner in W.P.(MD).No.6094 of Mr.S.Sankar For Respondents in W.P.(MD).No.6094 of Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP For Petitioners in Mr. S.Saravagan Prabhu 5/10
W.P.(MD).No.6098 of For Respondents in W.P.(MD).No.6098 of Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP For Petitioners in W.P.(MD).No.7650 of Mr.H.Vishal, for Mr.E.Aakash For Respondents in W.P.(MD).No.6098 of Mr. P.S.Raman, AG, assisted by Dr.T.Seenivasan, SGP C O M M O N O R D E R (Order of the Court was delivered by R.SUBRAMANIAN, J.) Challenge in these Writ Petitions is to the vires of the rules that introduced a new set of qualifications for the post of Sanitary Inspectors.
2. Now, the Deputy Secretary to the Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, has filed a status report. In paragraph 6 of the said status report, it reads as follows:- 6/10
"Hence, it is respectfully submitted that as the new rules came into force w.e.f. 13.04.2023, the Hon'ble High Court may be pleased to issue suitable directions that the applications who have acquired qualifications prior to the notification of the existing rules (Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023) may be considered for the post of Sanitary Inspector by taking into account the qualifications prescribed in the respective rules (Tamil Nadu Municipal Public Health Service Regulations, 1970 and the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023), as a one-time measure for this subject recruitment process."
3. The learned Advocate General appearing for the respondents would also make a statement that all those persons who have taken the examination pursuant to the notice dated 02.02.2024 will be considered for appointment as per the old Rules. Therefore, the challenge does not survive in effect.
4. In view of the same, these Writ Petitions are closed with a direction to the State Government to consider all persons who have taken the examination pursuant to the notification dated 02.02.2024 for the post of 7/10
Sanitary Inspectors. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are also closed. No costs.
(R.S.M., J.) (C.K., J.) 18.12.2024 kv Index : Yes/No Speaking order /Non Speaking Order To
1. The Principal Secretary, The State of Tamil Nadu, Municipal Administration & Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600005.
8/10
2. The Director, Directorate of Municipal Administration, No.75, Urban Administrative Building, Santhome High Road, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai - 600028.
9/10
R.SUBRAMANIAN, J.
and C.KUMARAPPAN, J.
kv 18.12.2024 10/10