Madras High CourtWP(MD)/35778/2025closed

S.Arunkumar v. The Additional Chief Secretary To Government

2026-01-08Honourable Mr Justice B.Pugalendhi5 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 08.01.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI W.P(MD)No.35778 to 35780 of 2025 and WMP(MD) Nos.28404, 28405, 28406, 28407, 28408, 28409, 28410, 28411 & 28412 of 2025 S.Arunkumar ... Petitioner in WP(MD) No.35778/2025 P.M.Paramasivan ... Petitioner in WP(MD) No.35779/2025 S.Adhithan ... Petitioner in WP(MD) No.35780/2025 Vs 1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Secretariat, Rural Development of Panchayat Raj (E5) Department, Chennai.

2.The Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Chennai -15.

3.The District Collector, Collectorate, Tuticorin District.

...Respondents

in all WPs 1/5

COMMON PRAYER: Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records relating to G.O.(Ms) No.198, issued by the 1st respondent dated 04.09.2025 Rural Development Panchayat Raj (E5) Department and the impugned rejection order of the petitioner dated 05.12.2025 issued by the 2nd respondent and quash the same. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Venkat Raman Senior Counsel for Mr.K.Saravanan For Respondents : Mr.Ajmal Khan Additional Advocate General Assisted by Mr.G.V.Vairam Santhosh Additional Government Pleader (In all WPs) C O M M O N O R D E R The guidelines issued by the Government vide G.O.(Ms) No.198, Rural Development Panchayat Raj (E5) Department, dated 04.09.2025 and the rejection of petitioner's candidature for the post of Village Panchayat Secretary, dated 05.12.2025 are challenged in these writ petitions.

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2.The learned Additional Advocate General has raised his preliminary objections that these petitioners have challenged the guidelines issued by the Government vide G.O.(Ms) No.198, Rural Development Panchayat Raj (E5) Department, dated 04.09.2025 and the guidelines have been issued pursuant to the Tamil Nadu Village Panchayat Secretaries (Conditions of Services) Rules, 2023. The learned Additional Advocate General has pointed out that without challenging the Rules, these writ petitions are filed and therefore, they are not maintainable.

3.The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners has also agreed for the same and seeks a short accommodation to challenge the Rules as well. 4.In reply, the learned Additional Advocate General has pointed out that in the event, if the petitioners intend to challenge the Rules, it has to be challenged before the Division Bench of this Court.

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5.Considering this anomaly, these writ petitions are closed with liberty to these petitioners to challenge the Rules along with the guidelines issued in the referred Government order, if they are so advised. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous petitions are also closed.

08.01.2026 Index:Yes Internet:Yes vrn To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Secretariat, Rural Development of Panchayat Raj (E5) Department, Chennai.

2.The Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Chennai -15.

3.The District Collector, Collectorate, Tuticorin District.

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B.PUGALENDHI, J.

vrn Common Order made in W.P(MD)No.35778 to 35780 of 2025 and WMP(MD) Nos.28404, 28405, 28406, 28407,28408, 28409, 28410, 28411 & 28412 of 2025 08.01.2026 5/5