M.Kavya Devi v. The Union Of India

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 07-01-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and W.M.P.No.53962 of 2025 M.Kavya Devi ..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Union of India Rep. By The Secretary To Govt., Government of Puducherry, Puducherry.

2. The Government of Puducherry Puducherry Examination Authority, Chief Secretariat, Puducherry.

3. The Controller of Examinations, Puducherry Examination Authority, Puducherry.

..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 the records relating to the impugned Notification issued by the 3rd respondent vide his proceedings No.A-34012/3/E-5/PEA/2025 dated 16.11.2025 (Advertisement No.03/CSL/PEA/2025) and quash the same as illegal and consequentially to direct the respondents to accept the petitioner's offline application and permit her to participate in the selection process under the UR category.

For Petitioner(s) :

M/s.D.Jeevitha For Respondent(s) :

Mr.Syed Mustafa, Special Government Pleader

ORDER

This writ petition is filed to call for the records relating to the impugned Notification issued by the 3rd respondent vide his proceedings No.A-34012/3/E-5/PEA/2025 dated 16.11.2025 (Advertisement No.03/CSL/PEA/2025) and quash the same as illegal and consequentially to direct the respondents to accept the petitioners offline application and permit her to participate in the selection process under the UR category.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner belongs to Scheduled Caste Community and a permanent resident of Bodiinayakanur, Theni District, who intend to apply for the post of Junior Library Attendant and Gallery Assistant, notified by the second respondent vide notification dated 16.11.2025, since she has completed requisite qualification of B.E.Degree in the year 2019. As per the notification, the applications are invited from "Indian Citizens who are Natives/Residents of the Union Territory of Puducherry" and "those who are natives of the Union Territory of Puducherry and residents by continuous resident in the Union Territory for the last 5 years immediately preceding the date of notification only are eligible to apply for the posts." Since, the petitioner is not a resident/native holder of

Puducherry, the online portal refused to register and accept her application, instead of keeping her application under the un-reserved category. Challenging the same, the petitioner has come forward with the present writ petition.

3. Learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents would submit that as per the said notification dated 16.11.2025, the candidates, who belongs to Un-Reserved category should not exceed the age of 30 years as on 14.12.2025. However, in the case on hand, the petitioner has already exceeded the age limit of 30 years. Hence, she is not entitled to participate in the aforesaid examination.

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

5. Though very many grounds have been raised by the learned counsel on either side, in view of the submission made by the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents that the petitioner has exceeded the age limit of 30 years as on 14.12.2025, as prescribed in the said notification, this Court is of the view that nothing survives for further adjudication in this writ petition.

6. Accordingly, this writ petition stands dismissed. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 07-01-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order VM To:

1. The Secretary To Govt., Government of Puducherry, Puducherry.

2. The Government of Puducherry, Puducherry Examination Authority, Chief Secretariat, Puducherry.

3. The Controller of Examinations, Puducherry Examination Authority, Puducherry.

M.DHANDAPANI, J.

VM 07-01-2026