S.Muthu Umayanan v. The Registrar (Recruitment)

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 07.04.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN W.P.(MD)No.9156 of 2026 and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.7345, 7346, 7347 of 2026 S.Muthu Umayanan ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Registrar (Recruitment), Judicial Recruitment Cell, High Court, Chennai-600 104.

2.The Additional Registrar General, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai-622023.

... Respondents PRAYER:- Writ 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 Notification No.143 of 2024, published by the first respondent dated 28.04.2024 for direct recruitment to the posts of (I) Cleanliness worker, (ii) Gardener, (iii) Watchman/Night watchman, (iv) Night watchman-cum-Masalchi, (v) Watchman cum-Masalchi, and (vi) Masalchi in the Judicial Department of Coimbatore District, insofar as it relates to Para - 8, Clause (C) Viva-Voce and subsequent publication of result of the Impugned Provisional Selection List by the 1st 1/10

respondent through online Dated 18.03.2026 and quash the same as illegal, arbitrary and violative of principles of fairness and consequently direct the 1st respondent to give a Marks Scouts and National Service Scheme - NCC Certificates of the Petitioner.

For Petitioner : Mr.N.Marimuthu For Respondents : Mr.D.Venkatesh, Standing Counsel

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by M.JOTHIRAMAN, J.) This writ petition has been filed challenging the impugned Notification No.143 of 2024, published by the first respondent dated 28.04.2024 for direct recruitment to the posts of (i) Cleanliness worker, (ii) Gardener, (iii) Watchman/Night watchman, (iv) Night watchmancum-Masalchi, (v) Watchman cum-Masalchi, and (vi) Masalchi in the Judicial Department of Coimbatore District, insofar as it relates to Para - 8, Clause (C) Viva-Voce and subsequent publication of result of the Impugned Provisional Selection List by the 1st respondent through online Dated 18.03.2026 and also for a direction to the first respondent to give a Marks Scouts and National Service Scheme - NCC Certificates of the Petitioner.

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2.It is the case of the petitioner that the first respondent published a notification No.143 of 2024 dated 28.04.2024 inviting online application for the direct recruitment for the posts of (i) Cleanliness worker, (ii) Gardener, (iii) Watchman/Night watchman, (iv) Night watchman-cum-Masalchi, (v) Watchman cum-Masalchi, and (vi) Masalchi in the Judicial Department of Coimbatore District. Educational qualification for the above said recruitment is that the candidate should have posses 10th standard completion. The petitioner passed 10+2+3 pattern and accordingly, he fully qualified for the said posts. The petitioner appeared for the written examination and he secured 45 marks in Part-A and 33 marks in Part-B. He also called for certificate verification and thereafter he has been called for skill test, on 11.11.2025.

Accordingly, he appeared and also called for viva-voce test. Though the petitioner produced extra curricular activities certificate, ie., Scout certificate and NSS Certificate, the respondents not at all considered the same. As per the notification No.143 of 2024 dated 24.04.2024 paragraph No.8 Clause (C) it is stated that in the viva-voce, outstanding and meritorious record of candidates in sports, athletics, NCC, NSS, ACC, Scouts and Guides will also taken into account.

notification, he had included his extra curricular as NSS and Scout. None consideration of the above mentioned certificates, he would suffer great hardship. The non-finding of the extracurricular certificate is a loss of the marks to the candidates which place a heavy competition role in the further selection. Therefore, the petitioner seeks a direction to quash the Paragraph No.8 Clause(c) of the notification dated 28.04.2024 and directed the respondents to give marks for scouts and NSS Certificate. 3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that though the impugned notification mentioned that candidates who possessed meritorious records in sports, athletics, NCC and NSS, will be taken into account, however, the respondents have not implemented the same.

Non-consideration of the marks for extracurricular activities would cause hardship to the candidates. The respondent not considered the certificate which possessed by the petitioner and without considering the same, the result has been published. Therefore, such result should be quashed and the petitioner's plea must be reconsidered and thereafter, results should be published.

4.Per contra, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents would submit that the object of the Viva-voce is to assess the suitability of the candidates by judging their mental alertness, skills, attitude, ethics, character, etc. The meritorious record of the candidates in sports and other activities will also be taken into account but, no marks will be awarded for the same. The entire recruitment process has been completed as per the notification issued by the respondents. There is no violation in following the paragraph No.8 Clause (c) of the notification. 5.We have considered the submissions made on either side and perused the records carefully.

6.According to the petitioner, he possessed scout certificate, NSS certificate and certificate with regard to the participation of wrestling competition and the same has not been considered as per paragraph No.8 Clause (c) of the notification. It is to be noted that as per paragraph No.8 of the notification, the selection of candidates will be based on (A) Common Written Examination (100 marks) (B)Skill Test (70 marks) (C)Viva-voce (30 marks). The questions in Part-A and Part-B will be set in Tamil language only. Part-B of the answer sheet will be 5/10

evaluated only, if the candidates secures minimum qualifying marks of 40% (ie., 20 marks) in Part-A. Marks secured in Part-A and Part-B together will be considered for shortlisting the candidates for skill test based on the rule of reservation. As per Clause 8-(C) Viva-voce consists 30 marks, which also prescribes 12 marks as minimum qualifying marks. At the end of the Clause8-C of the notification, it has been mentioned as under:- "The object of Viva-voce is to assess the suitability of the candidates by judging their mental alertness, skills, attitude, ethics, character, etc. In the Viva-voce, outstanding and meritorious record of candidates in Sports, Athletics, NCC, NSS, ACC, Scouts and Guides and Literary activities of the candidates besides his/her general physique, aptitude, flair for expression, grasp of General Knowledge etc.

, will also be taken into account. If the candidate is an 'In-service candidate' or in the service of the State or Central Government or in the Government Aided Institutions or the Quasi Government Organizations, his/her personal file or record sheet or any other record showing his/her work and conduct will also be taken into account. Further, the services rendered in the defence forces will be considered as an additional qualification]".

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7.A careful reading of the notification No.143 of 2024 dated 28.04.2024 Clause 8-(C) says that 12 marks is the minimum qualifying marks and Clause 8-(B) skill test prescribes 28 marks as minimum qualifying marks out of 70 marks. In the end of the Clause 8(C), it has been only stated about the object of the viva-voce to assess the suitability of the candidates by judging the mental alertness, skills, attitude, ethics, character, etc., and also mentioned in viva-voce, outstanding and meritorious record of the candidates in scouts and guides and literary activities of the candidates will also be taken into account. 8.

It is pertinent to mention that Clause 8(C) in Viva-voce, it has been mentioned about the object of the viva-voce and outstanding and meritorious records of the extracurricular activities of the candidates will also be taken into account and not particularly prescribed that extra mark will be awarded. Particularly, in Clause 8(A), it has been mentioned about the common written examination, which consists Part-A and Part-B with 100 marks. In Clause 8(B), it has been mentioned about the skill test and minimum qualifying marks is 28 mark out of 70 marks.

qualifying marks is 12 marks out of 30 marks. As per notification, the entire recruitment process has been completed. We are of the view that in the notification there is no mention about the candidates who possess certificates in extracurricular activities will be awarded extra marks. In such circumstances, there is no reason warrants to quash the impugned notification dated 28.04.2024. There is no merits in this writ petition and the same is liable to be dismissed.

9.In the result, this writ petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

[N.S.K., J.] & [M.J.R., J.] 07.04.2026 Index :Yes/No Internet :Yes GNS 8/10

To 1.The Registrar (Recruitment), Judicial Recruitment Cell, High Court, Chennai-600 104.

2.The Additional Registrar General, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai-622023.

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N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.

AND M.JOTHIRAMAN, J.

GNS W.P.(MD)No.9156 of 2026 07.04.2026 10/10