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Madras High CourtWP/11779/2026allowed

B.Madhukumar v. The Government Of Puducherry (Union Territory)

2026-04-02Honourable Ms. Justice P.T. Asha6 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 02-04-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA and WMP.No.12857 of 2026 B.Madhukumar S/o.B.Vijaya Mohan Rao No.6-6-134, New Rajeev Nagar Colony Farampeta, Yanam Puducherry 533464.

..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Government of Puducherry (Union Territory) Represented by its Secretary Home Department Puducherry.

2. The Senior Superintendent of Police Head Quarters, Puducherry.

3. The Special Officer (Police) Police Department Puducherry.

4. The Deputy Tahsildar Cum Executive Magistrate Yanam Puducherry.

..Respondent(s) PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records relating to the notice dated 25.02.206 issued by the Special Officer (Police Department) Puducherry, the 3rd respondent herein and quash the same and consequently to direct the 3rd respondent to accept the caste certificate issued to the petitioner 13.08.2025 for the appointment of the petitioner to the post of

Police constable, under Notification No.237/ESTT 1(B)/Rectt/PC/A1/25 and pass orders (Prayer amended as per order dated 02.04.2026 in WMP.No.14531 of 2026 in W.P.No.11779 of 2026).

For Petitioner:

Mr.A.V.Arun For Respondents:

M/s.G.Djearany Government Advocate (Pondy) for R1 ro R4

ORDER

The writ petitioner has been filed seeking the following relief : " To call for the records relating to the notice dated 25.02.206 issued by the Special Officer (Police Department) Puducherry, the 3rd respondent herein and quash the same and consequently to direct the 3rd respondent to accept the caste certificate issued to the petitioner 13.08.2025 for the appointment of the petitioner to the post of Police constable, under Notification No.237/ESTT 1(B)/Rectt/PC/A1/25 and pass orders."

2. The petitioner is a native of Yanam, Union Territory of Puducherry. He belonged to Scheduled Caste community. The 3rd respondent vide notification dated 12.08.2025 had called for recruitment of Police Constable and the petitioner had applied for the same. The petitioner had successfully cleared the written examination and physical fitness test. The petitioner who was provisionally selected, was asked to submit his certificate/document for

verification, including the community certificate. During certificate verification, the petitioner had submitted the caste certificate issued by the 4th respondent on 13.08.2025. The 3rd respondent had insisted the petitioner to obtain a fresh community certificate from the Taluk Office for processing his candidature.

3. When the petitioner approached the 4th respondent for issuing a fresh community certificate, he was informed that there is no time limit prescribed for the validity of the certificate and that the certificate issued by them on 13.8.2025 holds good. This has also been communicated to the 3rd respondent in writing by the 4th respondent on 24.02.2026, despite which, the 3rd vide his letter dated 25.02.2026, required the petitioner to obtain a fresh original certificate on or before 03.03.2026, failing which, his provisional selection would be cancelled. Thereafter, the petitioner had sought 10 days time for production of fresh caste certificate, from the 3rd respondent and yet again approached the 4th respondent, who had turned down the request of the petitioner, reiterating there is no need to issue a duplicate community certificate.

4. In this circumstances, the petitioner left with no other alternative, had filed the present writ petition seeking above relief.

5. Heard the learned counsel on either side and also perused the materials available on record.

6. The malafides and bureaucratic indifference is writ large in the case on hand. The petitioner had submitted the community certificate before the 3rd respondent which was issued to him on 13.08.2025 under the Constitution (Pondicherry Scheduled Caste Order 1964), after due verification and enquiry. This certificate has been obtained after the notification for recruitment of Police Constable was issued by the 3rd respondent dated 12.08.2025. It is seen that the petitioner has successfully completed the written examination as also the physical fitness test. The petitioner having been provisionally selected, had gone to attend the certificate verification on 18.02.2026 / 19.02.2026 and at that point in time, he was asked to produce the fresh community certificate.

It is also seen that the Deputy Tahsildar, 4th respondent herein had issued a letter to the 3rd respondent stating that there is no time limit prescribing the validity of the certificate, despite which, the 3rd respondent was reluctant to accept the certificate dated 13.08.2025, produced by the petitioner. The insistence of fresh community certificate vide impugned order dated 25.02.2026, particularly when the certificate had been obtained after the notification of the 3rd respondent, is rather baffling. There is no valid reason that has been stated for requesting a certificate contemporaneous to the date of certificate verification.

Even at the time of applying for the post of Police Constable, the petitioner had uploaded the said caste certificate, which is obtained just a day after the date of notification issued by the 3rd respondent.

totally unreasonable and without any legal basis, and accordingly the impugned order is liable to be quashed.

7. Therefore, the writ petition is allowed and the impugned order of the 3rd respondent dated 25.02.2026 is quashed. The 3rd respondent is directed to accept the community certificate issued to the petitioner on 13.08.2025, without insisting on a fresh caste certificate and appoint the petitioner to the post of Police Constable, if he otherwise qualifies. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

02-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DS To:

1. The Government of Puducherry (Union Territory) Represented by its Secretary Home Department Puducherry.

2. The Senior Superintendent of Police Head Quarters, Puducherry.

3. The Special Officer (Police) Police Department Puducherry.

4. The Deputy Tahsildar Cum Executive Magistrate Yanam Puducherry.

P.T.ASHA J.

DS and WMP.No.12857 of 2026 02-04-2026