L.Jahnit Asha v. The Secretary To Government
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 24-03-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA WP Nos. 9677, 9678, 9680, 10050, 10052, 10086, 10533, 10537, 10539 of 2026
1. L.Jahnit Asha ..Sole Petitioner in WP.No.9677 of 2026
2. M.Thenmozhi ..Sole Petitioner in WP.No.9678 of 2026
3. S.Jayanthi ..Sole Petitioner in WP.No.9680 of 2026
4. V.Jagjothi ..Sole Petitioner in WP.No.10050 of 2026
5. C.Dhivyabharathi ..Sole Petitioner in WP.No.10052 of 2026
6. K.Rajeswari ..1st Petitioner in WP.No.10086 of 2026
7. Karpaga Loganayagi ..2nd Petitioner in WP.No.10086 of 2026
8. T.Radha ..3rd Petitioner in WP.No.10086 of 2026
9. V.Vidya ..4th Petitioner in WP.No.10086 of 2026 10.M.Krishnaveni ..1st Petitioner in WP.No.10533 of 2026 11.S.Priyadharshini ..2nd Petitioner in WP.No.10533 of 2026 12.V.Kasthuri ..3rd Petitioner in WP.No.10533 of 2026 13.B.Priyanka ..4th Petitioner in WP.No.10533 of 2026 14.R.Punitha ..5th Petitioner in WP.No.10533 of 2026 15.R.Udhayashree ..6th Petitioner in WP.No.10533 of 2026 16.S.Premi ..7th Petitioner in WP.No.10533 of 2026 17.T.Prasannadevi ..1st Petitioner in WP.No.10537 of 2026 18.S.Padma Priya .. 2nd Petitioner in WP.No.10537 of 2026 19.S.Manonmani .. 3rd Petitioner in WP.No.10537 of 2026 20.R.Chinchu ..4th Petitioner in WP.No.10537 of 2026 21.S.Tamilselvi ..5th Petitioner in WP.No.10537 of 2026 22.R.Dhivyabharathi ..6th Petitioner in WP.No.10537 of 2026 23.Kousalya ..1st Petitioner in WP.No.10539 of 2026 Vs
1. The Secretary to Government Health and Family Welfare Department Fort St. George, Chennai 09.
2. The Director Medical and Rural Health Services DMS Building, Annasalai
Teynampet, Chennai - 600 006.
3. The Director of Medical Education Poonamallee High Road Kilpauk, Chennai - 10.
4. The Chairman Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB) 7th Floor, DMS Building Anna Salai, Teynampet Chennai - 600 006. ..Respondents in all WPs COMMON PRAYER : Writ Petitions filed under Article of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents to absorb the petitioners as Staff Nurses as has been done in the similarly situated person who are all appointed during the COVID-19 by considering the service rendered by them in the pandemic period within reasonable time and pass.
For Petitioners:
Mr.S.Sivakumar For Respondents:
Ms.Sneha Special Counsel for R1 to R3 Mr.S.J.Mohamed Sathik Government Advocate for R4
ORDER
The above writ petitions have been filed seeking a mandamus to the respondents to absorb the petitioners as Staff Nurses, as has been done in similarly situated persons who were appointed during the COVID-19, within a reasonable time.
2. The petitioners herein possess graduate degree in Nursing. The Government had appointed 2580 candidates as Staff Nurse during COVID-19 period in various hospitals on contract basis including the petitioners herein and that their services would be brought to regular establishment. However, the petitioners' services was not extended and terminated by an order dated 30.03.2022. Similarly placed persons who were terminated in December 2022, have approached this Court in W.P.No.2424 of 2023 etc., batch and the same was allowed by order dated 12.07.2023. The State had preferred an appeal in W.A.No.2856 of 2023 challenging the order in W.P.No.2424 of 2023 dated 12.07.2023. However, pending the appeal few similarly placed persons including the petitioners herein had filed W.P.No.5937 of 2024 and this petition was tagged along with W.A.No.
2856 of 2023. During the course of hearing, it was informed by the Government Advocate representing the State that 719 out of 818 persons terminated in December 2022, would be absorbed and the 2nd respondent had directed the candidates to appear for certificate verification on 19.02.2026, vide his communication dated 19.02.2026. However, in the list published by the second respondent, the petitioners name did not find a place.
3. The petitioners herein had served in the Reginal Institute of Ophthalmology Hospital, Egmore, Chennai. The petitioners came to learn that the respondents had inadvertently not included their names (persons who served
in Reginal Institute of Opththamology Hospital, Egmore) in the publication dated 19.02.2026. Therefore, the petitioners had addressed their grievances through their representations, however the respondents have not taken any steps even to verify their work details from the concerned hospital.
4. Heard the learned counsel on either side and also perused the materials placed before this Court.
5. A perusal of the affidavits filed in support of these writ petitions would prove that the petitioners had submitted their individual representations enclosing the copies of their appointment letter as well as their termination notices. This Court in collating to a similar set of persons, has passed orders in W.P.No.28088 of 2025, wherein this Court, after hearing the arguments on both sides and perusing the records, has passed the following order : " 8. Considering the submissions made by learned counsel on either side and taking note of the fact that this Court had already issued directions for absorption of nurses, vide orders, which are referred to supra, who had worked during the COVID pandemic period subject to verification of their credentials, this Court is of the view that the ends of justice would be met if any opportunity is granted to the petitioners to place their claims before the respondents."
6. Since the issue involved in the instant cases is similar to W.P.No.28088 of 2025, the present writ petitions are disposed of with the following directions : (a) The respondents shall consider the representations submitted by the petitioners and the attendant documents. They shall peruse the attendance registers and other documents available in the Department to show that the petitioners had worked in the hospitals concerned during COVID period.
(b)The petitioners shall submit their bank statements to show that their salaries were deposited by the respondents during the period they served in the department.
(c) The respondents shall not insist upon the petitioners for producing further records other than the records already submitted by them and now directed to be submitted.
(d) After collating all these documents, the respondents shall pass orders within a period of three weeks. However, the entire exercise shall be completed within a period of six weeks, There shall be no order as to costs.
24-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DS
To:
1. The Secretary to Government Health and Family Welfare Department Fort St. George, Chennai 09.
2. The Director Medical and Rural Health Services DMS Building, Annasalai Teynampet, Chennai - 600 006.
3. The Director of Medical Education Poonamallee High Road Kilpauk, Chennai - 10.
4. The Chairman Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB) 7th Floor, DMS Building Anna Salai, Teynampet Chennai - 600 006.
P.T.ASHA J.
DS WP Nos. 9677, 9678, 9680, 10050, 10052, 10086, 10533, 10537, 10539 of 2026 24-03-2026