Indira v. The Secretary

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 23.01.2026 C O R A M THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and W.M.P.Nos.1365 & 2143 of 2026 Indira ... Petitioner Vs 1.The Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort.St.George, Chennai.

2.The Commissioner, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department, Panagal Maaligai, Chennai-600015.

3.The District Collector, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.

... Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records from the 2nd respondent regarding the Notification dated nil for the post of panchayat secretary and quash the same and direct the 2nd respondents to conduct an interview for the petitioner.

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For Petitioner : Ms.R.Swetha For Respondents : Mr.P.Balathandayutham, Special Govt. Pleader

O R D E R

Aggrieved by the notification issued by the 2nd respondent inviting applications for appointments to the post of Panchayat Secretary, the petitioner is before this Court.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that, pursuant to the notification issued by the 2nd respondent inviting applications for appointments to the post of Panchayat Secretary, the petitioner applied for the said post under the SC Reservation Category. However, his application was rejected stating that 'You are not shortlisted for interview'. Aggrieved by which, the petitioner has come up with the present Writ Petition challenging the recruitment notification.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the rejection order passed by the respondent is without any basis as no reasons were stated except for 'You are not shortlisted for interview' which shows lack of transparency in the selection process and therefore, the impugned notification itself is liable to be set aside. Accordingly, he prayed for allowing the Writ Petition.

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4. Learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents on the basis of the letter dated 22.01.2026, submitted that the petitioner participated in the duly notified recruitment process under the SC woman category and the cut off marks fixed under the said category was 80.6 marks whereas the petitioner had scored only 68.68 which is less than the cut off marks. He, therefore, submitted that, if at all the petitioner has any grievance, it is open to him to challenge the rejection order and cannot challenge the entire recruitment notification. Accordingly, he prayed for dismissal of the Writ Petition.

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

6. Admittedly, the petitioner had applied for the post of Panchayat Secretary pursuant to the recruitment notification. Though, the petitioner challenges the said notification, no materials have been placed by her to establish the violation of statutory procedure in the selection process. However, a perusal of the letter dated 23.01.2026 of the 3rd respondent, reveals that the cut off mark fixed under SC general category was 81.6 whereas the petitioner had scored only 68.68 marks which is less than the cut off mark which was the basis for rejection of her candidature and therefore, the impugned notification cannot be interfered 3/6

with moreso when the petitioner had subjected herself to the selection process, and therefore, she cannot subsequently challenge the entire notification. Further, the basis on which the recruitment notification has been challenged has also not been spelt. Without there being a grievance with respect to the notification, the notification itself cannot be challenged for the mere rejection of the candidature of the petitioner. If at all the petitioner has any grievance, the proper course open to her would be to challenge the order of rejection, in the manner known to law by pointing out the arbitrariness or illegality.

7. For the reasons aforesaid, the Writ Petition stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.

23.01.2026 Index : Yes / No Speaking Order / Non-speaking order Nhs 4/6

To 1.The Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort.St.George, Chennai.

2.The Commissioner, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department, Panagal Maaligai, Chennai-600015.

3.The District Collector, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.

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M.DHANDAPANI, J Nhs and W.M.P.Nos.1365 & 2143 of 2026 23.01.2026 6/6