Lalitha v. The Secretary To Government

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 10/06/2026

CORAM

THE HON''BLE MR. JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR Lalitha ... Petitioner Vs

1. The Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Development, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009..

2. The Commissioner, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Panagal Building, Saidapet, Chennai - 600 015..

3. The District Collector,, Karur District, Karur.

... Respondents PRAYER:- Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to relax the relevant service rules, revise petitioner`s seniority based on her initial appointment dated 13.11.1990 FN, grant notional promotions in the respective cadres including higher cadres on par with my juniors with all attendant service and monetary benefits, within a time frame to be fixed by this Honble Court in light of petitioners representation dated 29.04.2026.

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For Petitioner : Mr.S.Balamurugan For Respondents : Mr.Dinesh Hari Sudarsan Counsel for Government of Tamilnadu (Civil side)

ORDER

The petitioner herein was initially appointed as a temporary Typist under Rule 10(a)(i) of Tamil Nadu State and Subordinate Service Rules through Employment Exchange through the proceedings dated 08.11.1990 issued by the third respondent and has been continuing as such in the Block development office, Karur District from 1996 onwards. Though the petitioner attended the Special Qualifying Examination, she could not succeed and it was thereafter the petitioner approached the then Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal seeking regularisation of services by filing O.A.No.427 of 1997. The said O.A was allowed by the Tribunal and the order passed by the Tribunal also confirmed by this Court as well as by the Hon'ble Apex Court directing regularisation of services of the petitioner from the initial date of appointment.

2. It was thereafter the petitioner has passed all the Departmental Tests on 31.12.1997. Accordingly, the Government issued orders in 2/7

G.O(1D)No.30, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department dated 21.01.2026 relaxing the relevant rules and declared probation with effect from 01.01.1998. However, the consequential benefits, such as fixation of seniority, promotion, etc are not extended to the petitioner on par with his juniors. As some of the juniors to the petitioner, namely, Tmt.R.Selvi and Tr. Jagatheesan were considered for promotion and were included in the relevant panels and were subsequently promoted from time to time and presently working as the Assistant Director. The petitioner is also claiming similar benefit on par with his juniors and accordingly submitted a representation dated 29.04.2026 seeking notional promotion and review of seniority etc. As no action has been taken by the respondents, the petitioner has approached this Court by filing the present writ petition.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner contended that the cases of the similarly situated persons were considered by the third respondent and necessary proposals have been forwarded to the second respondent but in the case of the petitioner, the third respondent has not submitted any proposals thereby discriminating the petitioner. 3/7

4. On the other hand, Mr.M.Dinesh Hari Sudarsan, learned Counsel for Government appearing for the respondents submits that the petitioner has not submitted all the relevant documents and therefore, the third respondent could not submit any proposal and in case if the petitioner submits all the necessary documents, the third respondent would submit necessary proposals on par with other similarly situated candidates.

5. In the circumstances, this Court is of the considered view that unless and until the petitioner submits all the necessary documents, the third respondent cannot take any steps either for submitting proposals or otherwise.

6. In the light of the above, following directions are issued: (i) The petitioner is granted liberty to submit a fresh representation duly including all the necessary documents before the third respondent; (ii) On submission of such representation duly enlosing all the relevant documents, the third respondent will take all necessary steps to submit necessary proposal before the respondents 1 and 2 for relaxation 4/7

of relevant rules as was done in respect of other similarly situated persons, within a period of six weeks from the date of submission of representation by the petitioner;

(iii) On submission of such proposal, the respondents 1 and 2 shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of proposal from the third respondent. There shall be no order as to costs.

10.06.2026 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes/No CM 5/7

TO

1. The Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Development, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009..

2. The Commissioner,, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Panagal Building, Saidapet, Chennai - 600 015..

3. The District Collector,, Karur District, Karur.

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MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR,J CM WP(MD) No.15457 of 2026 Date : 10/06/2026 7/7