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Madras High CourtWP/49694/2025dismissed

P.M.Pooja v. Indian Overseas Bank

2026-01-05Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani8 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 05.01.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI W.P.No. 49694 of 2025 and W.M.P.No. 55547 of 2025 P.M.Pooja ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Assistant General Manager, Human Resources Development Department, Indian Overseas Bank, Central Office, No.763, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600002.

2.The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Rep. By its Secretary, TNPSC Road, VOC Nagar, Park Town, Chennai - 600 003.

....Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st respondent to permit the petitioner to participate in the further stages of the selection process for the post of Local Bank Officer 2025-2026.

For Petitioner :

Mr.M.Kirubaharan For Respondents : Mr.B.Vijay for R2 Mr.K.Srinivasamurthy for Mr.N.G.R.Prasad for R1

O R D E R

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of writ of mandamus, directing the 1st respondent to permit the petitioner to participate in the further stages of the selection process for the post of Local Bank Officer 2025-2026.

2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner's mother tongue is Tamil and she is fully proficient in Tamil however, she did not studied Tamil as a subject in her formal education therefore, she appeared for second class language test in Tamil conducted by the 2nd respondent / Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission on 17.12.2022, which is meant to certify adequate Tamil language proficiency for Government jobs aspirants, who has not studied Tamil as subjects at the

SSLC or HSC or degree level. The petitioner passed the second class language test conducted by the TNPSC on 10.04.2023, which is as per D.O Letter No.1952/DTD/A2/2021 dated 22.12.2022 issued by Controller of Examination, TNPSC should be treated as a authenticated documents. While so, the petitioner appeared for online main examination conducted by the 1st respondent for the Local Bank Officer for the year 2025-2026. Based on her performance, she was called for personal interview through call letter issued by the 1st respondent. Accordingly, the petitioner appeared for interview on 10.12.2025 at IOB Staff College, Chennai. However, the 1st respondent arbitrarily disallowed the petitioner from further selection process on the ground, the petitioner has not possessed any Tamil language certificate either in the 10th standard or in the 12th standard and not obtained any certificate for possessing Tamil language. Challenging the same, the present writ petition is filed.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that though the petitioner pursue her studies in Malayalam language however, the petitioner's mother tongue is Tamil and since the petitioner's District is

situate adjacent to Kerela, she preferred first language as Malayalam and that will not dis-entitle the petitioner from participating in the selection process for the post of Local Bank Officer conducted by the Indian Overseas Bank and, in order to obtain a certificate for the local language, the petitioner participated the language test conducted by the TNPSC on 10.04.2023 and obtained a certificate on 22.12.2022. He would further submit that the said certificate is sufficient with regard to local language proficiency of the petitioner, however, disallowing the petitioner from participating in the selection process for Local Bank Officer is not acceptable one. Accordingly, he prayed for appropriate orders.

4. Per contra, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent would submit that as per the advertisement issued by the IOB for recruitment of Local Bank Officer for the year 2025-2026, the candidates must have proficient in reading, writing and speaking in the local language of the State where they applied, failing which, they will not be allowed to appear for personal interview and thus, the candidates will not be considered for further selection process. However, the candidates who have produced

10th or 12th mark sheet / certifying evidence for having studied the specific local language of applied state as one of the subject will not be required to undergo language proficiency test. In the present case, in the petitioner's application itself says she possessed 10th or 12th standard mark / certificate evidencing studied Official local language, since she marked as 'Yes' in the specified column. In view of the above, the proficiency test was not conducted in respect of the petitioner on the basis of the declaration made in her application in Application No.300135 and later, at the time of interview, it was found that the petitioner did not produced any of those certificates as stated above thereby, the petitioner's candidature was not considered. Accordingly, he prayed for dismissal of the writ petition.

5. Heard, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned counsel appearing for the respondents.

6. The facts of the present case is not in dispute. Admittedly, the petitioner studied Higher Secondary in the English medium and the language chosen by the petitioner in the Higher Secondary is Malayalam and Tamil

language is not available in the certificate produced by the petitioner. If it is so, the petitioner has to necessarily produce the certificate evidencing for studied in the Official local language, since the petitioner participated in the selection process for the post of Local Bank Officer conducted by the Indian Overseas Bank. In the application form, the petitioner specifically mentioned as 'Yes', that means the petitioner possessed either 10th standard or 12th standard or certificate evidencing studied in the Official local language but, she did not studied Tamil language in her formal studies. However, the petitioner relied upon the certificate that as if the petitioner appeared examination conducted by the TNPSC second class language test which is equivalent to the 10th standard.

However, no equivalency is produced before this Court and even assuming that the test conducted by the TNPSC is a valid one, it will be applicable only to the recruitment conducted by the TNPSC and the same is not binding on the Indian Overseas Bank recruitment process, since the Indian Overseas Bank recruitment process is an independent one and the TNPSC certificate is nothing to do with the selection process of the IOB.

7. In view of the above discussion, this Writ Petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 05.01.2026 NCC: Yes / No Index : Yes / No Speaking Order : Yes / No kkn To 1.The Assistant General Manager, Human Resources Development Department, Indian Overseas Bank, Central Office, No.763, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600002.

2.The Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, TNPSC Road, VOC Nagar, Park Town, Chennai - 600 003.

M.DHANDAPANI, J.

KKN 05.01.2026