Saravanakumar v. The Chairman
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Date of Reserving the Order Date of Pronouncing the Order 23.03.2026 17.06.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR W.P.(MD) Nos.2725, 2951, 2952, 2969, 3045, 3222, 3398, 3752, 3806, 3826, 3834, 4055, 4158, , 4518, 4559, 5820, 6346 & 6425 of 2026 and W.M.P.(MD) Nos.2315, 2437, 2440, 2442, 2443, 2456, 2458, 2513, 2514, 2515, 2517, 2649, 2650, 2816, 2819, 2820, 3116, 3119, 3122, 3140, 3395, 3477, 3480, 3764, 3766, 3822, 3824, 3825, 5267 & 5364 of 2026
1. W.P.(MD) No.2725 of 2026:
Saravanakumar ... Petitioner -vs1.The Chairman Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Old Commissioner of Police Office Campus Pantheon Road Egmore, Chennai-600 008 2.The Chairperson / Member Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Sub- Committee Ramanathapuram Centre Ramanathapuram ... Respondents
PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the impugned order dated 27.01.2026, passed by the second respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the respondents to conduct a fresh physical measurement test to the petitioner (Enrolment No.4302970) for the post of Common Recruitment of Grade-II Constable, Grade-II Jail Warder and Fireman of Police in the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, 2025.
For Petitioner :
Mr.R.Venkatesan For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
2. W.P.(MD) No.2951 of 2026:
S.Madhumitha ... Petitioner -vs1.The Chairman Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Egmore, Chennai-8
2.The Member Secretary Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Egmore, Chennai-8 3.The Chairperson Sub Committee Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Egmore, Chennai-8 ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the impugned disqualification slip issued by the third respondent dated 30.01.2026 and quash the same and further direct the respondents to conduct fresh physical measurement test to measure the height of the petitioner and allow the petitioner to attend the physical fitness test and physical efficiency test.
For Petitioner :
Mr.T.S.Mohamed Mohideen For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
3. W.P.(MD) No.2952 of 2026:
J.Ramila ... Petitioner -vs1.The Chairman Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Egmore, Chennai-8 2.The Member Secretary Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Egmore, Chennai-8 3.The Chairperson Sub Committee Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Egmore, Chennai-8 ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the impugned disqualification slip issued by the third respondent dated 29.01.2026 and quash the same and further direct the respondents to conduct fresh physical measurement test to measure the height of the petitioner and allow the petitioner to attend the physical fitness test and physical efficiency test.
For Petitioner :
Mr.T.S.Mohamed Mohideen For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
4. W.P.(MD) No.2969 of 2026:
I.Sivaprakash ... Petitioner -vs1.The Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Old Commissioner of Police Office Campus, Pantheon Road Egmore, Chennai-600 008 rep.by its Chairperson / Member Secretary 2.The Sub Committee Member The Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Pantheon Road Egmore, Chennai-600 008 3.The Superintendent of Police Office of the Superintendent of Police Trichy District ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned disqualification slip issued by the respondents 1 and 2 herein dated
29.01.2026 by wrongly taking the height measurement of petitioner as 169.5 instead of 171 as against the actual height measurement, quash the same and consequently directing the respondents herein to appoint the petitioner herein in any of the posts of Grade-II Police Constable, Grade-II Jail Warder and Fireman for the year 2025.
For Petitioner :
Mr.S.Satheesh Kumar For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
5. W.P.(MD) No.3045 of 2026:
S.Vignesh ... Petitioner -vs1.The Member Secretary Tamilnadu Uniformed Service Recruitment Board Old Commissioner of Police Office Campus Pantheon Road, Egmore Chennai-600 008 2.The Chairperson of Sub Committee The Superintendent of Police Thoothukudi District Thoothukudi ... Respondents
PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records of the second respondent relating to the impugned disqualification slip dated 27.01.2026, issued under Notification No.02/2025, dated 21.08.2025, quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the first respondent to conduct retest for the post of Grade-II Constable (Armed Reserve), Jail Warder Grade-II (Special Force) and Firemen for Fire & Rescue Service Department for Notification 02/2025, dated 21.08.2025, and further direction to issuance of appointment order if the petitioner is found eligible and falls within the zone of consideration, within the time stipulated by this Court. For Petitioner :
Mr.G.Sakthi Rao For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
6. W.P.(MD) No.3222 of 2026:
Sangaiya ... Petitioner -vsThe Member Secretary Tamilnadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Chennai-8 ... Respondent
PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records of the respondent relating to the impugned order dated 22.01.2026, passed by the respondent and quash the same as illegal and arbitrary and in consequence thereof direct the respondent to declare the candidate of the petitioner having enrollment number 4104248 as successful in the selection process for the year 2025. For Petitioner :
Mr.P.Ganapathi Subramanian For Respondent :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
7. W.P.(MD) No.3398 of 2026:
J.Roselin Chellammal ... Petitioner -vs1.The Chairman Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Old Commissioner of Police Office Campus Pantheon Road Egmore, Chennai-600 008
2.The Member Secretary Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Old Commissioner of Police Office Campus Pantheon Road Egmore, Chennai-600 008 3.The Superintendent of Police Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District 4.The Chairperson Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Sub-Committee Tirunelveli Tirunelveli District ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records of the fourth respondent pertaining to the impugned disqualification slip dated 28.01.2026 and quash the same as illegal and arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to conduct physical test and permit the petitioner to participate in the physical test and further course of selection process conducted by the respondents in the combined recruitment of Grade II police constable (Men, Women and Transgender) Grade II Jail Warder (Men and Women) Fireman for the year 2025 within the time period stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner :
Mr.A.D.Ganeshamoorthi For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
8. W.P.(MD) No.3752 of 2026:
S.Saravanan ... Petitioner -vs1.Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board rep.by its Chairman (DGP) Old Commissioner of Police Campus Pantheon Road Egmore, Chennai-600 008 2.The Chairperson Sub Committee Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Old Commissioner of Police Campus Pantheon Road, Egmore Chennai-600 008 ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records of the impugned disqualification slip dated 29.01.2026, issued by the first respondent to the
petitioner (Enrolment No.3403817) and to quash the same as arbitrary, violation of natural justice, consequentially direct the respondents to consider the claim of the petitioner for appointment for the post of Common Recruitment for the posts of GR.II-PCS, GR.II.JWS and Fireman 2025. For Petitioner :
Mr.R.Rajamohan For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
9. W.P.(MD) No.3806 of 2026:
A.Sudalai Mugesh ... Petitioner -vs1.The Member Secretary Tamilnadu Uniformed Service Recruitment Board Old Commissioner of Police Office Campus Pantheon Road, Egmore Chennai-600 008 2.The Chairperson of Sub Committee The City Commissioner of Police Egmore, Chennai ... Respondents
PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records of the second respondent relating to the impugned disqualification slip dated 30.01.2026, issued under Notification No.02/2025, dated 21.08.2025, quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the first respondent to conduct retest for the post of Grade-II Constable (Armed Reserve), Jail Warder Grade-II (Special force), and Firemen for Fire & Rescue Service Department for Notification 02/2025, dated 21.08.2025 and further direction to issuance of appointment order if the petitioner is found eligible and falls within the zone of consideration, within the time stipulated by this Court. For Petitioner :
Mr.G.Sakthi Rao For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
10. W.P.(MD) No.3826 of 2026:
M.Pavithra ... Petitioner -vs1.The Chairman Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Egmore, Chennai-8
2.The Members Secretary Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Egmore, Chennai-8 3.The Chairman Sub-Committee Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Palayamkottai Centre Tirunelveli District ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records pertaining to the impugned disqualification slip dated 28.01.2026 issued by the third respondent, quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to conduct a fresh physical measurement test to the petitioner and proceed further in accordance with the selection and appointment process within a reasonable time period to be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner :
Mr.R.Jenifar Bibin For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
11. W.P.(MD) No.3834 of 2026:
J.Syedussain ... Petitioner -vs1.Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board rep.by its Chairman (DGP) Old Commissioner of Police Campus Pantheon Road Egmore, Chennai-600 008 2.The Chairperson Sub Committee Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Old Commissioner of Police Campus Pantheon Road, Egmore Chennai-600 008 ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records of the impugned disqualification slip dated 27.01.2026, issued by the first respondent to the petitioner (Enrolment No.4007013) and to quash the same as arbitrary, violation of natural justice, consequentially direct the respondents to consider the claim of the petitioner for appointment for the post of Common Recruitment for the posts of GR.II-PCS, GR.II.JWS and Fireman 2025.
For Petitioner :
Mr.R.Rajamohan For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
12. W.P.(MD) No.4055 of 2026:
S.Niban Kumar ... Petitioner -vs1.The Government of Tamil Nadu rep.by its Secretary Home Department, Chennai 2.The Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board rep.by the Sub Committee Member Old COP Office Campus Pantheon Road, Egmore Chennai-600 009 ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned disqualification slip dated 27.01.2026 issued by the second respondent and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to conduct a fresh physical measurement test for the petitioner (Enrolment No. 4300937) for the posts of Grade II Police Constable, Grade II Jail Warder and Fireman in the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board-2025, dated 21.08.2025, within a time to be stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner :
Mr.D.Shanmugaraja Sethupathi For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
13. W.P.(MD) No.4158 of 2026:
M.Mathiyazhagan ... Petitioner -vs1.Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board rep.by its Chairperson Chennai-600 008 2.The Director General of Police Mylapore, Chennai-600 004 3.The Superintendent of Police O/o.The Superintendent of Police Tenkasi District ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the impugned disqualification slip in Annexure-10, dated 22.01.2026, on the file of the first respondent and consequentially for a direction directing the respondents to conduct remeasurement of the petitioner's height and permit
the petitioner to participate in the further selection process conducted by the respondents in the common recruitment for the posts of Grade II Police Constable (Men, Women & Transgender), Grade II Jail Warder (Men & Women) and Fireman for the year 2025, within the time period stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner :
Mr.T.Aswin Raja Simman For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
14. W.P.(MD) No.4517 of 2026:
A.Charles ... Petitioner -vs1.The Chairman Tamilnadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Chennai-600 008 2.The Director General of Police O/o.the Director General of Police Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai Mylapore, Chennai-600 004 3.The Superintendent of Police O/o.the Superintendent of Police Virudhunagar District ... Respondents
PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the impugned disqualification slip dated 22.01.2026 on the file of the respondent No.1 and quash the same as illegal and consequently for a direction directing the respondents to conduct re-physical measurement enabling the petitioner to participate in the further recruitment process within the time period stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner :
Mr.T.Aswin Raja Simman For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
15. W.P.(MD) No.4518 of 2026:
P.Kani ... Petitioner -vs1.The Chairman Tamilnadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Chennai-600 008 2.The Director General of Police O/o.the Director General of Police Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai Mylapore, Chennai-600 004
3.The Superintendent of Police O/o.the Superintendent of Police Tenkasi District ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records pertaining to the impugned disqualification slip dated 22.01.2026 on the file of the respondent No.1 and quash the same as illegal and consequently for a direction directing the respondents to conduct re-physical measurement enabling the petitioner to participate in the further recruitment process within the time period stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner :
Mr.T.Aswin Raja Simman For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
16. W.P.(MD) No.4559 of 2026:
P.Sathya ... Petitioner -vs1.Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board rep.by its Chairman Old Commissioner of Police Office Campus Pantheon Road, Egmore Chennai-600 008
2.The Member Secretary Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Old Commissioner of Police Office Campus Pantheon Road, Egmore Chennai-600 008 ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned disqualification slip issued by the respondents in Annexure-10, dated 31.01.2026 and quash the same and further direct the respondents to permit the petitioner to participate in the recruitment process. For Petitioner :
Mr.K.K.Udayakumar For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
17. W.P.(MD) No.5820 of 2026:
Manikandan ... Petitioner -vs1.The Member Secretary Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Chennai-600 008
2.The Director General of Police Office of the Director General of Police Mylapore, Chennai 3.The Superintendent of Police Virudhunagar District Virudhunagar ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records of the respondent No. 1, in his impugned proceedings in Annexure-10, disqualification slip issued in CV, PMT & ET dated 30.01.2026 and quash the same as illegal, arbitrary, violation of law and further direct the respondents to conduct a fresh physical measurement Test (Chest) within the stipulated time, which this Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case. For Petitioner :
Mr.M.Jothi Basu For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.V.Om Prakash Government Advocate
18. W.P.(MD) No.6346 of 2026:
P.J.Beflin Stigu ... Petitioner -vs-
1.The Chairman Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Egmore, Chennai-8 2.The Members Secretary Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Egmore, Chennai-8 3.The Chairman Sub-Committee Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Palayamkottai Centre Tirunelveli District ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records pertaining to the impugned disqualification slip dated 23.01.2026 issued by the third respondent, quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to conduct a fresh physical measurement test to the petitioner and proceed further in accordance with the selection and appointment process within a reasonable time period to be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner :
Mr.R.Jenifar Bibin For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.B.Ramanathan Additional Government Pleader
19. W.P.(MD) No.6425 of 2026:
K.Logeswari ... Petitioner -vs1.The Director General of Police Headquarters No.1, Dr.Radhakrishnan Road Mylapore, Chennai-600 004 2.The Member Secretary Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Chennai-600 008 3.The Administrative Officer Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Chennai-600 008 4.The Sub Committee Member Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Chennai-600 008 5.The Chairperson Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Chennai-600 008 ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records of the impugned order passed by the respondents made in disqualification slip No.Nil, dated
28.01.2026, and quash the same as illegal and consequently issue direction to the respondents to conduct height re-measurement test to the petitioner, afresh by a qualified physical Director and direct the respondents to allow the petitioner to participate in further selection process of Grade-II police Constable / Grade-II Jail Warden and Fireman for the year 2025. For Petitioner :
Mr.C.Aravind For Respondents :
Mr.Veera Kathiravan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.B.Ramanathan Additional Government Pleader C O M M O N O R D E R All these writ petitions have been filed challenging the disqualification slips issued by the respondent - Recruitment Board disqualifying the petitioners for the recruitment process initiated pursuant to the Notification No.2 of 2025, dated 21.08.2025 for various posts in the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services. The petitioners have been disqualified on the ground that they are not satisfying either the requirement of height measurement qualification or chest expansion measurement qualification etc.
2. From the perusal of the impugned disqualification slips, it is evident that immediately after taking measurements by the concerned on the request of the petitioners, the Appellate Authority also re-checked the measurements then and there, but the petitioners were found not satisfying the physical measurements. Some of the petitioners herein are all the candidates, who have also participated in an identical recruitment process during the earlier years and they were found to be satisfying the height measurement and they were also allowed to participate in the further recruitment process. There is no change in the measurement qualifications that are prescribed under the earlier recruitment notification and the present recruitment notification.
3. In the present recruitment process, all the petitioners herein have successfully completed the stage of written examination and it is only on the successful completion of the written examination, they were subjected to the physical measurement test. It is contended that, the petitioners have satisfied the requirements of height / chest expansion measurement qualification in the previous recruitment process and therefore, it is highly improbable that they would fail to satisfy the very same requirement in the present recruitment process.
4. The respondents have filed counter-affidavits contending that a Sub-Committee headed by an Officer in the rank of Superintendent of Police / Deputy Commissioner of Police was constituted at each centre to conduct the tests on behalf of the respondent - Board and to ensure that the recruitment process is undertaken in a fair and unbiased manner. It is also further stated that the height measurement tests for all the candidates were conducted by using the digital height measurement devises and the chest expansion measurement was done manually by using measuring tape.
It is further stated in case if any candidate is not satisfied with the measurements taken at the first instance, they can prefer an appeal before the Appeal Committee consisting of the Super Check Officer in the rank of Inspector General of Police / Deputy Inspector General of Police, Chairperson of the Sub-Committee in the rank of Superintendent of Police / Deputy Commissioner of Police in terms of the orders issued in Government Letter (D) No.866, Home (Police III) Department, dated 24.07.2018 and also submitted that the entire process has been videographed. It is also further stated that in terms of Rule 14 of the Tamil Nadu Special Police Subordinate Service Rules, 1978, the height measurement has been rounded off.
digital height measurement device. Thus, it is stated that neither at the initial stage of measurement nor at the appellate stage, the petitioners failed to satisfy the physical measurement test. It is also further stated that the physical measurements have been taken strictly in accordance with the directions issued by the learned Full Bench of this Court by using digital devices and therefore, there is no scope for any error. Thus, it is contended that the respondents have strictly followed the procedures that are provided under the relevant Government Orders and the petitioners, having participated in the recruitment process, without any basis, have come forward to file the present writ petitions contending that their measurements were mistakenly taken by the respondents. It is also further stated that in case if any such indulgence is shown in favour of the petitioners, the same will give scope for opening pandora's box.
5. On an earlier occasion, a Full Bench of this Court had an occasion to deal with an identical aspect and the learned Full Bench, having considered the matter in elaborate, answered the questions raised therein at Paragraph No.42 of the order dated 29.01.2020 in W.A.No.8 of 2020 and batch. For the purpose of the case on hand, it would be relevant to extract Paragraph No.42 of the said Judgment, which reads as under:
"42. Having reasoned out the issues raised before us, we accordingly answer the questions as follows:- i. A Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for correcting any error may ordinarily be not maintainable involving factual disputes, but, on the establishment of a patent factual error leading to prejudice and resulting in violation of legal or fundamental rights or otherwise involving malafides, a writ petition can be entertained under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, in order to avoid or otherwise rectify a denial of opportunity in matters of employment;
ii. The exercise of height measurement may be resorted to through scientifically approved electronic or such other devices, such as Digital Measurement Device (Sensor Machine) and the same deserves to be undertaken at all stages of height measurement to establish a standardised procedure of measurement, in order to avoid any variation either in appeal or to avoid any future litigation;
iii. The Rules prescribing rounding off as amended and contained in Rule 14 of the Special Rules for Tamil Nadu Police Subordinate Service being not under challenge, the same can be implemented, but, in order to ensure any dispute of calculation, miscalculation or any
suspected marginal error, it would be appropriate that instead of rounding off principle, a relaxation to the extent of 0.5 centimeter in the respective categories be introduced as a matter of rule that may possibly avoid any future litigation or dispute relating to discrepancy of measurement."
6. In the light of the above decision of the learned Full Bench of this Court, the present batch of matters are required to be examined.
7. This Court has heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr.Veera Kathiravan, learned Additional Advocate General and also carefully perused all the affidavits that are filed in support of the respective writ petitions. As per the impugned disqualification slips, all the petitioners have not fulfilled the required physical measurement qualification either with reference to the height measurement or with reference to the chest expansion measurement. Admittedly, the measurements were taken at two stages and it is only on the failure of the petitioners to satisfy the required physical measurements, they were issued with the impugned disqualification slips. Absolutely, there is no substantial allegation of any illegality or irregularity in the matter of taking measurements of the petitioners either at the initial stage
or at the appellate stage. However, the petitioners proceeded to state that their measurements were taken mistakenly or improperly by the respondents. Except the said vague allegation of improperly and mistakenly taking the measurements of the petitioners, there is no factual error or any illegality has been averred by them in their respective pleadings.
8. It is, no doubt, some of the petitioners, who have participated in the recruitment process during the previous recruitment process, claimed to have satisfied the physical measurement with reference to their height. But, those petitioners were also disqualified in the present recruitment process. Mere fact that the petitioners have satisfied the height requirement during the previous recruitment process by itself is not sufficient to find fault with the measurements taken in the recruitment process in question, in the absence of any error or illegality being pointed out by the petitioners. Admittedly, the height measurements of the petitioners have been taken by the respondents as directed by the learned Full Bench of this Court through scientifically approved electronic devices, such as Digital Measurement Device, where there is no scope for manual error. No complaint on the functioning of the said devices nor there is any allegation of procedural violation. This Court, while exercising jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India, will not act as a court of appeal nor sit in appeal over the decision of the authorities. This Court can only examine, whether the process adopted by the respondents in accordance with law or not. In the case on hand, no such procedural violation has been pointed out. It is also necessary to take note of the stand of the respondent - Board that the physical measurements during the previous recruitments were taken manually by machine and at both stages the measurements were taken digitally as directed by the learned Full Bench of this Court.
9. It is also necessary to note that, a Coordinate Bench of this Court having entertained this batch of writ petitions, by an oral order dated 18.02.2026, required Mr.S.C.Herold Singh, learned counsel to view the videograph of the process of taking physical measurements of some of the petitioners and the learned counsel, after having perused the videograph, submitted a report with respect to the height measurements of ten petitioners and chest expansion measurements of five petitioners. In all the cases, it was found that the petitioners have not satisfied the required measurements.
10. In the light of the above facts of the case, if the decision of the learned Full Bench of this Court is applied, this batch of writ petitions filed
under Article 226 of the Constitution of India cannot be entertained, as the petitioners failed to establish any patent factual error resulting in violation of any legal or fundamental rights of the petitioners nor any mala fide is attributed for issuing the impugned disqualification slips.
11. Then, coming to the decisions relied upon by the learned counsel for the petitioners in various orders passed by the Coordinate Benches of this Court are concerned, those are the decisions rendered basing upon the factual matrix of the said cases, except the decision of a Coordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.No.2971 of 2024 and batch, wherein, the learned Judge directed to relax the required height measurement to an extent of 0.5 Centimeter for the purpose of height measurement in the physical measurement test and to declare the petitioners therein to have come within the zone of consideration and duly qualify them for the purpose of recruitment. The said direction appears to have been issued by the learned Judge in the light of the order passed by the learned Full Bench referred to above.
12. As a matter of fact, the learned Full Bench of this Court, in its order, only opined that instead of applying the rounding off principle under
Rule 14 of the Tamil Nadu Special Police Subordinate Service Rules, 1978, it would be appropriate that a relaxation to an extent of 0.5 Centimeter in the respective categories be introduced as a matter of rule to avoid any future litigation or dispute relating to discrepancy of measurement. But, no such orders issued by the Government granting relaxation, as suggested by the learned Full Bench of this Court, no such order has been brought to the notice of this Court, nor there is any pleading to that effect. In the absence of any such relaxation granted by the competent authority, this Court is not inclined to grant any such relaxation in favour of the petitioners. The respondent - Board being a recruitment agency is bound by the Rules that are existing and applicable and cannot go beyond the Rules and relax qualifications etc. If any such direction is to be issued by this Court, the same would amount to directing the respondents to violate the law, which is binding upon them, which this Court cannot do.
13. In the light of the above, this Court is of the considered view that the petitioners failed to make out any case warranting interference of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.
14. Accordingly, these writ petitions are dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 17.06.2026 NCC :
Yes / No Index :
Yes / No Internet :
Yes / No krk To:
1.The Chairman, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Egmore, Chennai-8.
2.The Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Egmore, Chennai-8.
3.The Chairperson, Sub Committee, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Egmore, Chennai-8.
4.The Secretary, Home Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai.
5.The Sub Committee Member, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board Old COP Office Campus, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 009.
6.The Chairperson, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Chennai-600 008.
7.The Director General of Police, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004.
8.The Superintendent of Police, O/o.The Superintendent of Police, Tenkasi District.
9.The Chairman, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Old Commissioner of Police Office Campus, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 008.
10.The Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Old Commissioner of Police Office Campus, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 008.
11.The Chairman, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Old Commissioner of Police Office Campus, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 008.
12.The Chairperson / Member, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Sub- Committee, Ramanathapuram Centre, Ramanathapuram.
13.The Chairperson of Sub Committee, The Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi.
14.The Superintendent of Police, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District.
15.The Chairperson, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services, Recruitment Board, Sub-Committee, Tirunelveli,, Tirunelveli District.
16.The Chairman, Sub-Committee, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Palayamkottai Centre, Tirunelveli District.
17.The Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, Home Department, Chennai.
18.The Sub Committee Member, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Old COP Office Campus, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 009.
19.The Superintendent of Police, O/o.the Superintendent of Police, Virudhunagar District.
20.The Superintendent of Police, O/o.the Superintendent of Police, Tenkasi District.
21.The Administrative Officer, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Chennai-600 008.
22.The Sub Committee Member, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Chennai-600 008.
23.The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superintendent of Police, Trichy District.
MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR, J.
krk
ORDER
IN W.P.(MD) Nos.2725, 2951, 2952, 2969, 3045, 3222, 3398, 3752, 3806, 3826, 3834, 4055, 4158, 4517, 4518, 4559, 5820, 6346 & 6425 of 2026 and W.M.P.(MD) Nos.2315, 2437, 2440, 2442, 2443, 2456, 2458, 2513, 2514, 2515, 2517, 2649, 2650, 2816, 2819, 2820, 3116, 3119, 3122, 3140, 3395, 3477, 3480, 3764, 3766, 3822, 3824, 3825, 5267 & 5364 of 2026 17.06.2026