P.Ravindran v. The State Of Tamilnadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 12.08.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR 1.P.Ravindran 2.S.Mohamed Ibrahim 3.P.Paneer Selvam 4.S.Rajakannan 5.M.Kalidass 6.C.Ramya 7.B.Kalaivanan 8.A.Santhana Rajesh 9.S.Sekar 10.K.Mahesh 11.K.Malaramathi 12.V.Karthikeasan 13.S.Rajalakshmi 14.K.Kavitha 15.A.Thirunavukkarasu 16.M.Manimuthu 17.G.Madhavan 18.R.Meenakshi 19.B.Senthilkumar ... Petitioners Vs.
1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. By its Secretary to Government, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department, Fort St.George, Chennai.
2.The Commissioner / Director, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department, Panagal Maligai, Saidapet, Chennai.
3.The District Collector, Nagapattinam District, Nagapattinam.
4.The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Rep. By its Chairman, Chennai.
... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents herein to determine the inter-se seniority between the petitioners and the Assistants who are promoted from the post of Junior Assistants in the Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department and consequently direct the respondents herein to place the petitioners above the candidates who are promoted to the post of Assistant for the year 2011-2012.
For Petitioners : Mr.M.Sivavarthanan For R1 to R3 : Mr.Yogesh Kannadasan Special Government Pleader For R4 : Mr.R.Baranidharan Standing Counsel for TNPSC
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed seeking Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents herein to determine the inter-se seniority between the petitioners, who are all the Assistants appointed by direct recruitment and the assistants, who are promoted from the post of Junior Assistants in the Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department, while seeking a consequential direction to the respondents herein to place the petitioners above the candidates, who are promoted to the post of Assistant for the panel year 2011-2012.
2. When the matter was taken up for consideration on 05.08.2025, it was brought to the notice of this Court by Mr.Yogesh Kannadasan, learned Special Government Pleader that subsequent to filing of the present writ petition, a separate seniority list has been drawn
including the petitioners as well as the private respondents herein in the year 2018 and subsequently, the petitioners herein were also promoted to the post of Block Development Officer through proceedings No. Se.Mu.Na.Ka.515/U.Va.4/2018 dated 06.10.2018. In the light of the above, the matter was adjourned to enable the learned counsel for the petitioner to verify and report before this Court.
3. Today, learned counsel for the petitioner filed a Memo stating that the respondents have issued proceedings bearing R.C.No.3143/Rural Welfare 4/2023 dated 31.01.2024 finalising the seniority in the post of assistant duly superseding the earlier seniority list and therefore, the petitioners may be granted liberty to challenge the said seniority list dated 31.01.2024.
4. Though it is contended that the issue with regard to the entitlement of the petitioners for consequential relief sought in the main writ petition survives, this Court is unable to accept the said contention, as once the main relief sought in the writ petition has become
infructuous, the question of considering the case of the petitioners for grant of consequential relief does not arise. Further it is also an admitted fact that all the petitioners have been promoted to the post of Deputy Block Development Officer during pendency of the writ petition.
5. In the light of the above, the cause in the writ petition does not survive. However, all the issues that are raised before this Court in the present writ petition have been left open while granting liberty to the petitioners to challenge the seniority list finalised vide proceedings dated 31.01.2024 and for the consequential relief sought in this writ petition.
6. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is dismissed as infructuous, subject to observation made herein above. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.
12.08.2025 Index: Yes/No Internet: Yes/No Speaking/Non-Speaking order mtl
To 1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. By its Secretary to Government, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department, Fort St.George, Chennai.
2.The Commissioner / Director, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department, Panagal Maligai, Saidapet, Chennai.
3.The District Collector, Nagapattinam District, Nagapattinam.
4.The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Rep. By its Chairman, Chennai.
MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR, J.
mtl 12.08.2025