Judgment · High Court

WP No. 11160 of 2026__________Page1 of 8 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED: 26-03-2026CORAMTHE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHAWP No. 11160 of 2026andW.M.P.Nos.12145, 12148 and 12151 of 20261.G.Sathiyamoorthy2.G.Pragadhambal..Petitioner(s)Vs1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, State of Tamilnadu, Health and Family Welfare (C2) Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.2.The Director of Medical Education and Research, State of Tamilnadu, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010...Respondent(s)Prayer : Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Declaration to declare that the impugned G.O.Ms.No.262, Health and Family Welfare (C2) Department dated 13.09.2024 by the 1st respondent as ultra vires and call for records in relates to the promotion panel order passed by the 2nd respondent through his proceedings in Ref No.14986/E5/2/2025 Dated 03.02.2026 Promotional panel for appointment to the post of Laboratory Technician https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No.

11160 of 2026__________Page2 of 8Grade-II by recruitment by transfer from the Laboratory Technician Grade-III and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to appoint candidates who possessed Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technician Grade-II.For Petitioner(s):Mr.M.GangatharanFor Respondent(s):Mr.M.Bindran, Additional Government PleaderORDERThe petitioners have approached this Court to quash the orders of the 1st respondent to declare G.O.Ms.No.262, Health and Family Welfare (C2) Department dated 13.09.2024 as ultra vires and consequently to call for the records relating to the promotion order passed by the 2nd respondent through his proceedings dated 03.02.2026 appointing candidates to the post of Laboratory Technician Grade-III by way of recruitment by transfer from the Laboratory Technician Grade-III and quash the same and direct the respondents to appoint candidates who possess a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology to the post of Laboratory Technician Grade-II. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No.

11160 of 2026__________Page3 of 82. The petitioners have completed two-year Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (D.M.L.T.) and claim that they are eligible to be appointed to the post of Laboratory Technician Grade-II by way of direct recruitment. As per the Tamil Nadu Medical Subordinate Service Rules, the post of Laboratory Technician Grade-II was filled either by direct recruitment from candidates who had completed the two-year D.M.L.T. course or by recruitment by transfer from the post of Laboratory Technician Grade-III. Subsequently, the Government had issued G.O.Ms.No.262, Health and Family Welfare (C2) Department dated 13.09.2024, prescribing that appointments to the post of Laboratory Technician Grade-II shall be made in the ratio of 1:2 between direct recruitment and recruitment by transfer from the post of Laboratory Technician Grade-III. Thereafter, the second respondent, by proceedings dated 03.02.2026, had issued a promotional panel for appointment to the post of Laboratory Technician Grade-II by recruitment by transfer from the post of Laboratory Technician Grade-III for 122 candidates.

According to the petitioners, the said action has adversely affected the opportunities of candidates who have completed the two-year D.M.L.T. course. Hence, the present writ petition. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 11160 of 2026__________Page4 of 83. Heard the learned counsels on either side and perused the materials available on record.4. The petitioners base their claim on G.O.Ms.No.262, Health and Family Welfare (C2) Department, dated 13.09.2024. The said Government Order was the subject matter of challenge before the Division Bench of the Madurai Bench of this Court in W.P.(MD) Nos.23388 and 23389 of 2024 and 32704 of 2025, wherein the Bench observed that the said Government Order had brought about a radical change by prescribing that for recruitment by transfer from the post of Laboratory Technician Grade-III, the candidate must be an approved professional with not less than three years of experience in the said post.

The Government Order also introduced a proviso fixing the ratio between direct recruitment and recruitment by transfer. After considering the said Government Order, the Division Bench had observed as follows:

19. Therefore, the apprehension expressed by the writ petitioners through the impugned G.O., nearly 30,000 candidates possessing DMLT qualification would be affected is not sustainable. Primarily for the reason entry into the Government service for those who https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 11160 of 2026__________Page5 of 8possess DMLT certificate is not a constitutional guarantee or a task feasible for the State to provide employment for all DMLT certificate holders. Secondarily, the ratio fixed assures that the in house service candidates carrier prospect of promotion which is recognised in service jurisprudence. 20. Therefore, we find no irrational or malafide in G.O(Ms)No.262 or the notification issued following G.O.Ms.No.262, hence, we have no hesitation to dismiss these writ petitions as devoid of merits.

The Division Bench has thus upheld the validity of G.O.Ms.No.262 and dismissed the challenge to the same.