M.Srinivasan v. The State Of Tamilnadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 17.03.2025
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.KARTHIKEYAN W.P.Nos.8613, 8616 & 8625 of 2024 M.Srinivasan .. Petitioner in W.P.No.8613 of 2025 P.Indhu Kavi .. Petitioner in W.P.No.8616 of 2025 D.Subramaniam .. Petitioner in W.P.No.8625 of 2025 Vs.
1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by its Agricultural Production Commissioner and Secretary to the Government Agriculture and Farmers Welfare department, Fort St.George, Chennai.
2.The Director of Agriculture, Chepauk, Chennai.
3.The Controller of Examination, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, TNPSC Road, Broadway, Chennai.
4.The Registrar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
.. Respondents in all writ petitions
Common Prayer: Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the entire records relating to the impugned phase - II list of the 3rd respondent dated 17.02.2024 in so far as rejection of candidature of the petitioner (Reg.No.0101001044) is concern and quash the same and further directing the 3rd respondent to permit the petitioner to participate in the further selection process for the direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Director of Agricultural (Extension) in pursuant to the Notification No.1/23 dated 12.01.2023.
In all Writ Petitions:
For Petitioners : Mr.R.Maheswaran For R1 & 2 : Mr.V.Nanmaran, AGP For R3 : Mr.I.Abrar Md.Abdullah For R4 : Mr.S.Manikandan COMMON ORDER The issue raised in all the three writ petitions are common and therefore, a common order is passed.
2.The only issue is with respect to the educational qualification prescribed for recruitment for the post of Agricultural Officer (Extension), and Assistant Director of Agricultural (Extension) in the respondent
department. The petitioners claim that the educational qualification which they possess should be considered as equivalent to the education qualification prescribed by the respondents. They had an apprehension that on that ground, their application would be rejected. But, however, it had been very fairly stated on behalf of the respondents, particularly, the third respondent that the qualifications acquired by the petitioners are sufficient to be considered for further selection process for the post of Agricultural Officer (Extension), Assistant Director of Agricultural (Extension) in the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Extension Service and Horticultural Officer included in the Tamil Nadu Horticultural Service. 3.This Court had an occasion to examine the educational qualifications of the petitioners vis-a-vis requirements by the respondents in Shameer Ahamed and six others Vs. The State of Tamil Nadu and three others in W.P.No.6205 of 2024 and by an order dated 21.02.2025 has held as follows:
2.In the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition, it had been stated by the writ petitioners that all of them had completed their B.Sc. in Agriculture and M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension
and Communication and were eligible to be appointed as Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension). They had studied at the Universities in Madurai, Coimbatore and Killiklam (Extension Education). A notification had been issued by the third respondent inviting applications for the posts of Agricultural Officer (Extension), Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) and Horticulture Officer. The petitioners had applied for these posts, but their educational qualifications were subjected to verification and the respondents refused to consider the certificates provided by the petitioners.
3.It is now contended on behalf of the petitioners that the Government had passed an order in G.O.(Ms.) No.173, Agriculture Farmers Welfare (AU) Department, dated 07.08.2024 wherein it had been stated that (i) M.Sc., Agriculture in Economics awarded by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is equivalent to M.Sc., (Agriculture) in Agricultural Economics / M.Sc., Agricultural Economics for the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) in the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Extension Service; (ii)
M.Sc., (Agriculture) in Agricultural Extension and Communication awarded by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is equivalent to M.Sc., (Agriculture) in Agricultural Extension/ M.Sc., Agricultural Extension for the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) in the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Extension Service; and (iii) M.Sc., (Agriculture) in Extension Education awarded by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is equivalent to M.Sc., (Agriculture) in Agricultural Extension / M.Sc., Agricultural Extension for the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) in the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Extension Service.
4.In effect, the qualifications acquired by the petitioners are sufficient to be considered for further selection processes for the posts of Agricultural Officer (Extension) in the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Extension Service, Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) in the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Extension Service and Horticultural Officer in the Tamil Nadu Horticultural Service. 5.The issue raised in the writ petition has
been addressed by the Government through the passing of the aforementioned Government Order. It is contended that the petitioners were also called for the oral test, but subject to the result of this writ petition.
6.Since the qualifications acquired by the petitioners are deemed equivalent to the qualifications required by the respondents, as stated in their notification, no further orders are required to be passed in the writ petition. The respondents may proceed further with the recruitment process and the petitioners may also be considered for the posts they had applied, if they are otherwise eligible.
7.Accordingly, the writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
4.The petitioners also stand on the same footing. Subsequently, the certificates produced by them had been examined by the respondents and on that ground, their application had not been rejected.
5.In view of that particular fact, no further orders are required and this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions, if any, are also closed. sli 17.03.2025 Index:Yes/No Internet:Yes/No To:
1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by its Agricultural Production Commissioner and Secretary to the Government Agriculture and Farmers Welfare department, Fort St.George, Chennai.
2.The Director of Agriculture, Chepauk, Chennai.
3.The Controller of Examination, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, TNPSC Road, Broadway, Chennai.
4.The Registrar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
C.V.KARTHIKEYAN,J.
sli W.P.Nos.8613, 8616 & 8625 of 2024 17.03.2025