A.Palanisamy v. The Principal Secretary

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 25.11.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN and W.M.P.Nos.49639 & 49642 of 2025 1.A.Palanisamy 2.M.Balachandran ....

Petitioners Vs 1.The Principal Secretary to Government, Department of The Handlooms, Handicrafts Textiles and Khadi, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009 2.The Director, Department of Sericulture, Nethaji Nagar, Hasthampatti, Salem-636 007.

....

Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to the impugned order passed by 2nd respondent in Na.Ka.111928/Pa. Aa.2/2023-1 dated 30.09.2025 to quash the same and to direct the 2nd respondent to publish the marks obtained by the selected candidates for the recruitment year 2013-2014 and based on the marks to fix the revised Seniority List (Merit based Seniority) of the Assistant Inspectors of Sericulture appointed through Direct recruitment for the year 2023-2024.

For Petitioners : Mr.M.Kaviveerappan For Respondents : Mr.Yogesh Kannadasan Special Government Pleader

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed challenging the order dated 30.09.2025 passed by the second respondent, thereby rejecting the request made by the petitioner seeking revision of seniority list which was published on merits in respect of the Assistant Inspectors of Sericulture through direct recruitment for the year 2023-2024.

2.Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.

3.The petitioners were appointed as Assistant Inspector of Sericulture in the Sericulture Department in the year 2014 by direct recruitment. At the time of recruitment to the post of Assistant Inspector of Sericulture, the list of selected candidates along with marks obtained in the interview as well as physical test was not published. Thereafter, the second respondent published a revised seniority list dated 25.03.2025 for Assistant Inspectors of Sericulture appointed during the year 2013-2014, wherein the first petitioner was placed at Sl.No.12 and the second petitioner was placed at Sl.No.15. Aggrieved by the

merit-based seniority fixed without disclosure of marks, the petitioners raised objections and sought publication of the marks as mandated under Rule 35(a) and Rule 35(aa) of the Tamil Nadu State and Subordinate Service rules. However, the said objections were considered and rejected by the order impugned in this writ petition, which is under challenge in this writ petition. 4.On instructions, the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submitted that, after considering the objections raised by the petitioners, the second respondent rejected the same and published the revised seniority list based on merits in respect of Assistant Inspectors of Sericulture, who were appointed through direct recruitment during the year 2013-2014. As per the revised inter-se seniority, the petitioners were placed at Sl.Nos.

274 & 277 respectively. The petitioners have now belatedly sought publication of the mark list relating to the recruitment to the post of Assistant Inspector of Sericulture for the year 2013-2014. The revised seniority list (merit based seniority) of the Assistant Inspectors appointed through direct recruitment for the year 2013-2014 was published strictly in compliance with the directions issued by this Court and does not require any correction or revision of the seniority.

5.Further, it was clarified that fixation of seniority of directly recruited Assistant Inspectors of Sericulture and Junior Inspectors of Sericulture for the year 2013-2018, was sought from the Government and it was informed that merit based seniority shall be followed in the case of directly recruited Assistant Inspectors of Sericulture and junior Inspector of Sericulture in the Department of Sericulture. Therefore, the objections raised by the petitioners were rightly rejected.

6.In view of the above, this Court finds no infirmity or illegality in the order dated 30.09.2025 passed by the second respondent. Thus, the writ petition is devoid of merits and is liable to be dismissed. Accordingly, this Writ Petition stands dismissed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. No costs.

25.11.2025 (2/2) Internet: Yes Index : Yes/No Lpp

To 1.The Principal Secretary to Government, Department of The Handlooms, Handicrafts Textiles and Khadi, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009 2.The Director, Department of Sericulture, Nethaji Nagar, Hasthampatti, Salem-636 007.

G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN. J, Lpp (2/2) 25.11.2025