Madras High CourtWP/12097/2025dismissed

R.S.M.Manoranjitham v. The Principal Secretary To The Government

2025-11-18Honourable Mr Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan10 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 18.11.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 and WMP.No.33362 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025 and Sub.Appln.No.1071 of 2025 WP.No.12097 of 2025 1.R.S.M.Manoranjitham 2.M.Nivetha 3.S.Sujitha 4.B.Tharanidevi 5.M.Renukadevi 6.Nagarathinam ... Petitioners Vs.

1.THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT, MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION AND WATER SUPPLY DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, CHENNAI 600 009 2.THE DIRECTORATE MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION, 75-SANTHOME HIGH ROAD, PATTINAMPAKKAM M.R.C.

NAGAR, R.A. PURAM, CHENNAI 600 028 3.ANNA UNIVERSITY, REPRESENTED BY ITS CONTROLLER OF EXAMINATION, OLD HIGH WAYS BUILDING, SARDAR PATEL, GUINDY, CHENNAI 600 025 4.TWAD BOARD, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECOR, EZHILAGAM, CHEPUAK CHENNAI 600 005 5.Anantha Ruban C 6.Mathanavel K 7.Sathyanarayanan M 1/10

(respondents 5 to 7 impleaded vide order dated 18.11.2025 made in WMP.No.32612 of 2025 in WP.No.12097 of 2025) ... Respondents PRAYER:

Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus Calling for records pertaining to the list of counselling - withheld candidates diploma standard (technical) post dated 29.03.2025 published on the website of the 1st Respondent and directing the Respondents to appoint the petitioners for the post of Work Inspectors notified under the Notification no.01 / DMA / Recruitment / 2024 dated 02.02.2024 issued by the respondent.

For Petitioners : Mr.P.Wilson for M/s.A.S.Kailasam and Associates For Respondents For R1 & 2 : Mr.C.Selvaraj, Additional Government Pleader For R4 : Mrs.S.Mekhala, Standing Counsel For R5 to 7 : Mr.M.Vignesh WP.No.12522 of 2025 1.M.Gomathi 2.D.Vaitheeswari ... Petitioners 2/10

Vs.

Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus Calling for records pertaining to the list of counselling - withheld candidates diploma standard (technical) post dated 29.03.2025 published on the website of the 1st Respondent and quash the same and directing the Respondents to appoint the petitioners for the post of Work Inspectors notified under the Notification no.01 / DMA / Recruitment / 2024 dated 02.02.2024 issued by the respondent.

For Petitioners : Mr.P.Wilson for M/s.A.S.Kailasam and Associates For Respondents For R1 & 2 : Mr.C.Selvaraj, 3/10

Additional Government Pleader For R4 : Mrs.S.Mekhala, Standing Counsel Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025 1.R.S.M.Manoranjitham 2.M.Nivetha 3.S.Sujitha 4.B.Tharanidevi 5.M.Renukadevi 6.Nagarathinam ... Petitioners Vs.

1.Dr. D.Karthikeyan, The Principal Secretary to the Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.

2.P.Madhusudhan Reddys, The Directorate Municipal Administration, 75-Santhome High Road, Pattinampakkam, M.R.C.

Nagar, R.A.

Puram, Chennai 28.

3.Dr.P.Sakthivel, Controller of Examination Anna University, Old High Ways Building, Sardar Patel, Guindy, Chennai 25.

4.Dr. G.S. Sameeran, TWAD Board Managing Director, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai 600 005.

PRAYER:

Contempt Petition is filed under Section 11 of Contempt of Courts 4/10

Act, 1971, praying to punish the respondents for willfully disobeying the order passed by this Court in WP.No.12097 of 2025 dated 02.04.2025. For Petitioners : Mr.P.Wilson for M/s.A.S.Kailasam and Associates For Respondents For R1 & 2 : Mr.C.Selvaraj, Additional Government Pleader For R4 : Mrs.S.Mekhala, Standing Counsel COMMON ORDER W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 These writ petitions have been filed challenging the list of counselling - withheld candidates diploma standard (technical) post dated 29.03.2025 published by the first respondent. 2.

All the petitioners herein are qualified with Degree in Electronic Communication in Engineering from institutions recognised by the Anna University. Some of the petitioners are also qualified with Diploma in Engineering (Electronics and Communication). While being so, the first respondent issued notification dated 02.02.2024 for recruitment to various posts including the post of Draughtsman, Overseer and Work Inspector. The qualification for the post of Draughtsman is that 5/10

the candidate must possess a Diploma in Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. Insofar as the post of Work Inspector, the candidate must possess Diploma in Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering from the institution approved by the Government of Tamilnadu. However the petitioners applied for these posts. Though they are not qualified with requisite qualification, as per the instruction those who are possessing degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalence in Electrical Engineering or Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering (refer Annexure II) will write paper I - (Electrical Engineering). Accordingly, they applied for and write the examination.

As per Annexure-II, they have to prove that the degree obtained by them is equivalent to the qualification which is required for the post of Draughtsman and Work Inspector. However the petitioner failed to prove the equivalence of their Degree in Electronic Communication in Engineering as that of Electrical Engineering. Therefore, the petitioners' results were withheld. 3.

It is seen that the learned counsel for the petitioners relied upon the Government Order in GO.Ms.No178 Higher Education (J1) Department dated 17.07.2015 thereby it is ordered that consideration as to 6/10

whether BE (Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering) Anna University is equivalent to BE Electrical Engineering or Electronics and Communication Engineering. However, it is not applicable to the case on hand since the petitioner has completed their Degree in Electronic Communication in Engineering and Diploma in Engineering (Electronics and Communication). As per the Government Order in GO.Ms.No178 Higher Education (J1) Department dated 17.07.2015, both are not equivalent to Diploma in Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. Therefore, the petitioner failed to upload and submit evidence for equivalence of qualification in the form of Government Order. Hence, the petitioners' candidature itself is liable to be rejected.

Further, the petitioners had misunderstood the resolution No.11 in GO.Ms.No178 Higher Education (J1) Department dated 17.07.2015. It is very clear that the required educational qualification for the post of Work Inspector is that the candidate must possess Diploma in Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. Further, Electronics and Communication Engineering primarily focusses electronic circuits, communication systems, and maintenance of 7/10

communication devices and electronic systems, and there is no direct involvement in providing basic infrastructure to the public under municipal administration. Electrical Engineering has a broader scope, encompassing areas such as power generation, transmission, distribution, and large-scale electrical infrastructure. This field plays a key role in delivering essential amenities to the public, such as electricity and other infrastructure development projects like street light maintenance and major water supply and UGSS scheme in Urban Local Bodies. Therefore, the petitioners misconstrued the educational qualification and wrote the examination. Hence, both the writ petitions fail and the same are liable to be dismissed.

In view of the above discussion, both the writ petitions are dismissed. The respondents are directed to complete the selection process from the waitlisted candidates if they are eligible to be appointed for the said post. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs.

Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025 6.

In view of the above order passed in both the writ petitions, the contempt petition in Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025 is closed. Consequently, 8/10

the connected sub application is also closed. 18.11.2025 (3/3) Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order lok G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.

lok To 1.THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT, MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION AND WATER SUPPLY DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, CHENNAI 600 009 2.THE DIRECTORATE MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION, 75-SANTHOME HIGH ROAD, PATTINAMPAKKAM M.R.C.

NAGAR, R.A. PURAM, CHENNAI 600 028 3.ANNA UNIVERSITY, REPRESENTED BY ITS CONTROLLER OF EXAMINATION, OLD HIGH WAYS BUILDING, SARDAR PATEL, GUINDY, CHENNAI 600 025 4.TWAD BOARD, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECOR, EZHILAGAM, CHEPUAK CHENNAI 600 005 W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 and WMP.No.33362 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025 and Sub.Appln.No.1071 of 2025 9/10

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