Sudha.S v. The State Of Tamilnadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 26-12-2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V. LAKSHMINARAYANAN and WMP.No.56476 of 2025
1. Sudha.S
2. Krishnan. U
3. Dr.S. Sheeba Ananthy
4. Rajavelu.S
5. Mariraja.G Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The State of Tamilnadu Rep. by its Secretary, Higher Educational Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 009.
2.The Teachers Recruitment Board Rep. by its Secretary, Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. MGR Centenary Building, 3rd and 4th Floors, Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Kalvi Valagam, College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 006 Respondent(s) 1/6
PRAYER Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents herein to permit the petitioners to submit their applications physically and / or enable completion of their online applications for the post of Assistant Professor pursuant to Notification No. 04/ 2025 dated 16.10.2025 issued by the Teachers Recruitment Board and consequently direct the respondents to provisionally permit the petitioners to appear for the written examination scheduled on 27.12.2025, by issuing hall tickets or by any other appropriate mode, 27.12.2025 by issuing hall tickets or by any other appropriate mode, subject to verification of eligibility and without creating any equity in favour of the petitioners within a time frame stipulated by this Hon'ble Court.
For Petitioner(s):
Mr.Arvind Athithan.A For Respondents:
Mr.M.Bindran Additional Government Pleader (For R1) Mr.R.Neelakandan Additional Advocate General Assisted by Mr.C.Kathiravan Standing Counsel (For R2) (TRB)
ORDER
Heard Mr.Arvind Athithan A, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr.M.Bindran, learned Additional Government Pleader for the first respondent and Mr.R.Neelakandan, learned Additional Advocate General for Mr.C.Kathiravan, learned standing counsel for the second respondent. 2/6
2. The petitioners are working as Assistant Professors in several institutions. The second respondent had called for a Notification for filling up the post of Assistant Professors in Government institutions on 16.10.2025. The petitioners state that they attempted to upload their certificates but they were not in a position to do so. Pointing out these difficulties, they approached the respondents by way of individual representations on 20.12.2025. As there has been no tangible response for the same, they are before this Court.
3. Mr.Arvind Athithan invites my attention to the order passed by this Court in W.P.(MD)No.35206 of 2025 etc., dated 10.12.2025. He submits that the petitioners are in the same position as that of the petitioners who approached the Madurai Bench by way of aforesaid writ petitions. Hence, he seeks for a similar order.
4. Mr.R.Neelakandan, learned Additional Advocate General states that the petitioners have approached the Court at the last moment and it gives hardly any time for the second respondent to accommodate them. He states that hall tickets have already been issued and the question papers have been despatched to the centres and therefore, logistical difficulties are being faced by the second respondent to accommodate the request made by the petitioners. 3/6
5. I have heard the learned counsel appearing on both sides and carefully perused the materials available on record.
6. When this Court has taken a view that the persons who are similarly situated are entitled to take the examination and has also given a direction to the second respondent to receive the applications either in person or through online mode, if I were to take a diffident view, it might not be appropriate. Further more, in service matters, it is not necessary for all the petitioners to approach the Court and seek for the relief. The Supreme Court as well as this Court have consistently held that in service matters, if declaratory relief is granted in favour of one person, it will enure in favour of all persons similarly situated. With respect to the plea of Mr.Neelakandan, it is the absolute discretion of the second respondent to decide the place where the petitioners would be accommodated for the purpose of examination. The petitioners cannot insist that they will write the examination only in Chennai or in Perambalur or in Tenkasi. They would have to report wherever the second respondent calls upon them to appear.
7. In the light of the above discussion, the writ petition is ordered in terms of the order of this Court in W.P.(MD) No.35206 of 2025 dated 10.12.2025. The Teachers Recruitment Board shall receive the applications of the petitioners today (26.12.2025) and permit them to take up the examination tomorrow 4/6
(27.12.2025). The applications of the petitioners shall be presented in person before 5.45 p.m. today. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
26-12-2025 kak/mmi Index:Yes/No To
1. The State of Tamilnadu Rep. by its Secretary, Higher Educational Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 009.
2.The Teachers Recruitment Board Rep. by its Secretary, Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. MGR Centenary Building, 3rd and 4th Floors, Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Kalvi Valagam, College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 006 5/6
V.LAKSHMINARAYANAN J.
kak/mmi (1/2) 26-12-2025 6/6