N.Suganthi v. The State Of Tamilnadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 07-01-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPAN WP Nos.10656, 11268, 8358 & 12132 of 2025 and W.M.P.Nos.12009, 12013, 12711, 12712, 9379, 13695 & 13699 of 2025 W.P.No.10656 of 2025:
1. N.Suganthi
2. V.Vijayabalan ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by its Secretary, Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.
2. Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Rep by its Secretary, V.O.C.Nagar, Park Town, Chennai-600 003.
3. Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Rep by the Controller of Examinations, V.O.C.Nagar, Park Town, Chennai-600 003.
4. Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Ltd, Rep by its Chairman Cum Managing Director, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002 ..Respondent(s) Prayer: This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorari calling for the records relating to the Addendum Notification No.9D/2024 dated 13.2.2025 of the 2nd respondent and quash the same only in so far as it prescribes the maximum age limit for the post __________Page 1 of 11
of Assistant Engineer(Electrical) (Post code-3266)in the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution corporation Limited.
For Petitioner(s) :
Mr.K.M.Ramesh, Senior Counsel for Mr.V.Subramani For Respondent(s) :
Mr.I.Abra Mohd.Abdulla for TNPSC Mr.P.Balathandayutham, SGP for R1 Mr.R.Nikkhilesh Athav for Mr.K.Raj Kumar for TANGEDCO W.P.No.11268 of 2025:
P.Saravanakumar ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, V.O.C.Nagar, Park Town, Chennai-600 003.
3. The Controller of Examinations, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, V.O.C.Nagar, Park Town, Chennai-600 003.
4. The Chairman cum Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Limited, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.
..Respondent(s) Prayer: This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India __________Page 2 of 11
praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned Addendum Notification No.9D/2024 dated 13.2.2025 issued by the 2nd respondent and quash the same and consequently directing the second respondent to relax the age limit for the post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical) - post code 3266 as per the first Notification No.9/2024 dated 26.07.2024.
For Petitioner(s) :
Mr.G.Sankaran, Senior Counsel for Mr.J.Antony Jesus For Respondent(s) :
Mr.I.Abra Mohd.Abdulla for TNPSC Mr.P.Balathandayutham, SGP for R1 Mr.R.Nikkhilesh Athav for Mr.K.Raj Kumar for TANGEDCO W.P.No.8358 of 2025:
1.M.Dhilipan Babu 2.R.Pandiyan 3.M.Bharath ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, Secretariate, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, V.O.C.Nagar, Park Town, Chennai-600 003.
3. The Controller of Examinations, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, V.O.C.Nagar, Park Town, Chennai-600 003.
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4. The Chairman cum Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Limited, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.
..Respondent(s) Prayer: This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for impugned order in Addendum Notification No.9D/2024 dated 13.02.2025 on the file of the second respondent, quash the same and further directed the second respondent to relax the age limit as 40 years as per the Addendum Notification No.9C/2024 dated 30.12.2024 and the First Notification No.9/2024 dated 26.07.2024. For Petitioner(s) :
Mr.K.M.Ramesh, Senior Counsel for R.Anbalagan For Respondent(s) :
Mr.I.Abra Mohd.Abdulla for TNPSC Mr.P.Balathandayutham, SGP for R1 Mr.R.Nikkhilesh Athav for Mr.K.Raj Kumar for TANGEDCO W.P.No.12132 of 2025:
H.Ashok Kumar ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, Secretariate, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, V.O.C.Nagar, Park Town, Chennai-600 003.
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3. The Controller of Examinations, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, V.O.C.Nagar, Park Town, Chennai-600 003.
4. The Chairman cum Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Limited, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.
..Respondent(s) Prayer: This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for impugned order in Addendum Notification No.9D/2024 dated 13.02.2025 on the file of the second respondent, quash the same and further directed the second respondent to relax the age limit as 40 years as per the Addendum Notification No.9C/2024 dated 30.12.2024 and the First Notification No.9/2024 dated 26.07.2024. For Petitioner(s) :
Mr.K.M.Ramesh, Senior Counsel for R.Anbalagan For Respondent(s) :
Mr.I.Abra Mohd.Abdulla for TNPSC Mr.P.Balathandayutham, SGP for R1 Mr.R.Nikkhilesh Athav for Mr.K.Raj Kumar for TANGEDCO COMMON ORDER The issue arises in these writ petitions are one and the same. Accordingly, these writ petitions are disposed of by way of a common order.
2. The case of the petitioners is that the second respondent issued a notification No.9 of 2024 dated 26.07.2024, for direct recruitment to the post of __________Page 5 of 11
Combined Technical Service (Non-interview post), which the petitioners made online application for the post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical). As per the notification, there is no maximum age limit for applying the post. Subsequently, written examination was conducted, wherein, all the petitioners were participated. Under these circumstances, by addendum in Notification No.9D/2024, dated 13.02.2025, the second respondent revised the number of vacancies and imposed restrictions on maximum age limit for the post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical), Assistant Engineer (Civil) and Assistant Engineer (Mechanical) as 32 years for BC (OBCM)s, BCMs, MBCs/DCs and 35 years for SCs, SC (A)s and STs,. Challenging the aforesaid notification dated 13.02.2025, the petitioners have filed these writ petitions.
3. Learned senior counsel for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners are Engineering Graduates and applied for the post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical) under the Tamil Nadu Combined Technical Service Examination vide notification dated 26.07.2024, which initially prescribed no age limit and thereafter, all the petitioners have appeared for the written examination. However, the second respondent prescribed maximum age limit for the post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical), Assistant Engineer (Civil) and Assistant Engineer (Mechanical) by way of addendum dated 13.02.2025. Accordingly, they fixed a maximum age limit of BC (OBCM)s, BCMs, MBCs/DCs as 32 years, which is not sustainable. It is further submitted that __________Page 6 of 11
any addendum must remain consonant with the original notification. As the impugned addendum is inconsistent with the terms of the initial notification, it is liable to be set aside.
4. Learned Senior Counsel for the petitioners further submits that, pursuant to the interim directions issued by this Court, the petitioners participated in both the written examination and the subsequent counselling process. However, their results have been withheld owing to the pendency of the present writ petitions. Consequently, he seeks a direction from this Court to the respondents to declare the results and, in the event the petitioners are found successful, to consider their candidature for appointment in accordance with law.
5. Per contra, learned standing counsel appearing for the respondents would submit that the dispute in these writ petitions are relates to 195 post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical) notified by the second respondent in Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited, which is an addendum to the earlier notification dated 26.07.2024, wherein, the aforesaid post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical) was notified under two categories viz., 67 posts for Public Works Department and 13 posts for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. In the earlier notification, there is no age limit prescribed and the petitioners are entitled to participate without any age limit. However, in respect __________Page 7 of 11
of addendum, on the basis of the request made by the Tamil Nadu Power Corporation, these 195 posts were announced for selection by way of competitive examination, which entitles the petitioners to participate upon satisfaction of the age limit and other conditions. Since these specific posts were not included in the original notification dated 26.07.2024, the current requirements are not inconsistent, and the petitioners are not entitled to claim age relaxation. Consequently, the challenge to the addendum notification via writ petition is not maintainable. Accordingly, he prays for dismissal of these petitions.
6. Learned standing counsel appearing for the respondents would further submit that the petitioners are not coming under the zone of consideration, in respect to the post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical) notified under Public Works Department and HR & CE Department. However, in regard to Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited, the result of the petitioners have been withheld in respect of the petitioners, pursuant to the direction issued by this Court.
7. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.
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8. The dispute in these writ petitions are relates to recruitment to the post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical), notified by the second respondent on 26.07.2024 and further addendum notification dated 13.02.2025. In the earlier notification dated 26.07.2024, the post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical) was notified under two categories viz., 67 posts for Public Works Department and 13 posts for HR & CE Department. Whereas, in the addendum notification, the post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical) was notified under the category of Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited for 195 posts. It is pertinent to note that the in the earlier notification, there is no age limit prescribed and the petitioners are entitled to participate without any age limit.
However, in respect of addendum, on the basis of the request made by the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited, the aforesaid 195 post was announced for selection by way of competitive examination upon satisfaction of the age limit and other condition imposed. Therefore, the original notification dated 26.07.2024 is not inconsistent with the earlier notification, since the 195 posts notified under Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited was not mentioned in the earlier notification. Hence, the order impugned in these writ petitions does not warrant any interference by this Court. Accordingly, these writ petitions are dismissed.
petitioners. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
07-01-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order VM To:
1. The Secretary, Personnel And Administrative Reforms Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, V.O.C.Nagar, Park Town, Chennai-600 003.
3. The Controller Of Examinations, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, V.O.C.Nagar, Park Town, Chennai-600 003.
4. Chairman Cum Managing Director, Tamilnadu Electricity Board Ltd, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002 __________Page 10 of 11
M.DHANDAPANI J.
VM WP Nos.10656, 11268, 8358 & 12132 of 2025 07-01-2026 __________Page 11 of 11