Tamil Nadu Highways Department v. The Government Of Tamilnadu Rep By
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 29-10-2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN
1. Tamil Nadu Highways Department Diploma Engineers Association (Regn.No.189/2023) 3/690-3 Old Sivakasi Road, Virudhunagar-626 001 Rep By Its General Secretary, M.Marimuthu Petitioner Vs 1.The Government Of Tamilnadu Rep By the Secretary To Government, Highways And Minor Ports Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009 2.The Director General Highways Department, 76, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai-600 025 Respondents PRAYER Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of Mandamus, directing the first respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 24.07.2025 with regard to 1/6
preparation of panel for promotion to the post of Junior Engineer for the year 2025-26 and take appropriate action and pass appropriate orders thereon within a time limit to be fixed by this Hon'ble Court. For Petitioner:
Mr.P.Manojkumar For Respondents:
Mr.Yogesh Kannadasan, Spl.GP
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed for a direction directing the 1st respondent to consider the representation submitted by the petitioner dated 24.07.2025 seeking preparation of a panel for promotion to the post of Junior Engineer for the year 2025-26.
2. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.
3.According to the petitioner Association, as per the Tamil Nadu Highways Engineering Subordinate Service Rules, the post of Junior Engineer has to be filled up by direct recruitment or by promotion from Draughting and Junior Draughting Officer, Skilled Assistant Grade-I, Survey Assistant, Field 2/6
Assistant and Research Assistant Grade-II.
4.As per Section 7 of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants (Conditions of Service) Act, 2016, the list of approved candidates for appointment by promotion and by recruitment by transfer to all the categories of posts in the State and Subordinate Services shall be prepared annually against the estimated number of vacancies expected to arise during the course of a year. The estimate of vacancies shall be prepared taking into account the total number of permanent post in a category, the number of temporary posts in existence, the anticipated sanction of new posts in the next year; the recruitment post of leave reserves, the anticipated vacancies due to retirement and promotion, etc., in the course of the year and the number of candidates already in position in that category.
5.The grievance of the petitioner Association is that for the year 2025-26, the respondents failed to prepare any panel for promotion to the post of Junior Engineer in accordance with Section 7 of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants 3/6
(Conditions of Service) Act, 2016. Therefore, the petitioner submitted a representation dated 24.07.2025 to the 1st respondent seeking preparation of a panel for promotion to the post of Junior Engineer for the year 2025-26 and promote the eligible persons as Junior Engineer. 6.Now, the crucial date for preparing the promotion panel for the year 2025-26 has already expired i.e., 15th July 2025. Therefore, the respondents are directed to prepare the panel for promotion to the post of Junior Engineer for the year 2026-27 on or before 15th July 2026.
7.With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. 29-10-2025 shr Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes 4/6
To 1.The Government Of Tamilnadu Rep By The Secretary To Government, Highways And Minor Ports Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009 2.The Director General Highways Department, 76, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai-600 025 5/6
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN J.
shr 29-10-2025 6/6