High Court · 2025

W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED: 18.11.2025CORAM:THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYANW.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 andWMP.No.33362 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025 andSub.Appln.No.1071 of 2025WP.No.12097 of 20251.R.S.M.Manoranjitham2.M.Nivetha3.S.Sujitha4.B.Tharanidevi5.M.Renukadevi6.Nagarathinam ... PetitionersVs.1.THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT, MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION AND WATER SUPPLY DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, CHENNAI 600 0092.THE DIRECTORATE MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION,75-SANTHOME HIGH ROAD, PATTINAMPAKKAM M.R.C. NAGAR, R.A. PURAM, CHENNAI 600 0283.ANNA UNIVERSITY,REPRESENTED BY ITS CONTROLLER OF EXAMINATION,OLD HIGH WAYS BUILDING, SARDAR PATEL, GUINDY, CHENNAI 600 0254.TWAD BOARD,REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECOR, EZHILAGAM, CHEPUAK CHENNAI 600 0055.Anantha Ruban C6.Mathanavel K7.Sathyanarayanan M1/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025(respondents 5 to 7 impleaded vide orderdated 18.11.2025 made in WMP.No.32612 of 2025 in WP.No.12097 of 2025) ... RespondentsPRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus Calling for records pertaining to the list of counselling - withheld candidates diploma standard (technical) post dated 29.03.2025 published on the website of the 1st Respondent and directing the Respondents to appoint the petitioners for the post of Work Inspectors notified under the Notification no.01 / DMA / Recruitment / 2024 dated 02.02.2024 issued by the respondent.For Petitioners: Mr.P.Wilson for M/s.A.S.Kailasam and AssociatesFor Respondents For R1 & 2 : Mr.C.Selvaraj, Additional Government Pleader For R4 : Mrs.S.Mekhala, Standing Counsel For R5 to 7 : Mr.M.VigneshWP.No.12522 of 20251.M.Gomathi2.D.Vaitheeswari ... Petitioners2/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025Vs.1.THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT, MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION AND WATER SUPPLY DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, CHENNAI 600 0092.THE DIRECTORATE MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION,75-SANTHOME HIGH ROAD, PATTINAMPAKKAM M.R.C. NAGAR, R.A. PURAM, CHENNAI 600 0283.ANNA UNIVERSITY,REPRESENTED BY ITS CONTROLLER OF EXAMINATION,OLD HIGH WAYS BUILDING, SARDAR PATEL, GUINDY, CHENNAI 600 0254.TWAD BOARD,REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECOR, EZHILAGAM, CHEPUAK CHENNAI 600 005 ... RespondentsPRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus Calling for records pertaining to the list of counselling - withheld candidates diploma standard (technical) post dated 29.03.2025 published on the website of the 1st Respondent and quash the same and directing the Respondents to appoint the petitioners for the post of Work Inspectors notified under the Notification no.01 / DMA / Recruitment / 2024 dated 02.02.2024 issued by the respondent.For Petitioners: Mr.P.Wilson for M/s.A.S.Kailasam and AssociatesFor Respondents For R1 & 2 : Mr.C.Selvaraj,3/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025 Additional Government Pleader For R4 : Mrs.S.Mekhala, Standing CounselCont.P.No.3191 of 20251.R.S.M.Manoranjitham2.M.Nivetha3.S.Sujitha4.B.Tharanidevi5.M.Renukadevi6.Nagarathinam... PetitionersVs.1.Dr. D.Karthikeyan,The Principal Secretary to the Government,Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department,Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.2.P.Madhusudhan Reddys,The Directorate Municipal Administration,75-Santhome High Road, Pattinampakkam, M.R.C. Nagar, R.A. Puram, Chennai 28.3.Dr.P.Sakthivel,Controller of Examination Anna University, Old High Ways Building, Sardar Patel, Guindy, Chennai 25.4.Dr. G.S. Sameeran,TWAD BoardManaging Director, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai 600 005.PRAYER: Contempt Petition is filed under Section 11 of Contempt of Courts 4/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025Act, 1971, praying to punish the respondents for willfully disobeying the order passed by this Court in WP.No.12097 of 2025 dated 02.04.2025.For Petitioners: Mr.P.Wilson for M/s.A.S.Kailasam and AssociatesFor Respondents For R1 & 2 : Mr.C.Selvaraj, Additional Government Pleader For R4 : Mrs.S.Mekhala, Standing CounselCOMMON ORDERW.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025These writ petitions have been filed challenging the list of counselling - withheld candidates diploma standard (technical) post dated 29.03.2025 published by the first respondent. 2.All the petitioners herein are qualified with Degree in Electronic Communication in Engineering from institutions recognised by the Anna University. Some of the petitioners are also qualified with Diploma in Engineering (Electronics and Communication). While being so, the first respondent issued notification dated 02.02.2024 for recruitment to various posts including the post of Draughtsman, Overseer and Work Inspector. The qualification for the post of Draughtsman is that 5/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025the candidate must possess a Diploma in Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. Insofar as the post of Work Inspector, the candidate must possess Diploma in Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering from the institution approved by the Government of Tamilnadu. However the petitioners applied for these posts. Though they are not qualified with requisite qualification, as per the instruction those who are possessing degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalence in Electrical Engineering or Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering (refer Annexure II) will write paper I - (Electrical Engineering). Accordingly, they applied for and write the examination. As per Annexure-II, they have to prove that the degree obtained by them is equivalent to the qualification which is required for the post of Draughtsman and Work Inspector. However the petitioner failed to prove the equivalence of their Degree in Electronic Communication in Engineering as that of Electrical Engineering. Therefore, the petitioners' results were withheld. 3.It is seen that the learned counsel for the petitioners relied upon the Government Order in GO.Ms.No178 Higher Education (J1) Department dated 17.07.2015 thereby it is ordered that consideration as to 6/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025whether BE (Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering) Anna University is equivalent to BE Electrical Engineering or Electronics and Communication Engineering. However, it is not applicable to the case on hand since the petitioner has completed their Degree in Electronic Communication in Engineering and Diploma in Engineering (Electronics and Communication). As per the Government Order in GO.Ms.No178 Higher Education (J1) Department dated 17.07.2015, both are not equivalent to Diploma in Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. Therefore, the petitioner failed to upload and submit evidence for equivalence of qualification in the form of Government Order. Hence, the petitioners' candidature itself is liable to be rejected. 4.Further, the petitioners had misunderstood the resolution No.11 in GO.Ms.No178 Higher Education (J1) Department dated 17.07.2015. It is very clear that the required educational qualification for the post of Work Inspector is that the candidate must possess Diploma in Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. Further, Electronics and Communication Engineering primarily focusses electronic circuits, communication systems, and maintenance of 7/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025communication devices and electronic systems, and there is no direct involvement in providing basic infrastructure to the public under municipal administration. Electrical Engineering has a broader scope, encompassing areas such as power generation, transmission, distribution, and large-scale electrical infrastructure. This field plays a key role in delivering essential amenities to the public, such as electricity and other infrastructure development projects like street light maintenance and major water supply and UGSS scheme in Urban Local Bodies. Therefore, the petitioners misconstrued the educational qualification and wrote the examination. Hence, both the writ petitions fail and the same are liable to be dismissed. 5.In view of the above discussion, both the writ petitions are dismissed. The respondents are directed to complete the selection process from the waitlisted candidates if they are eligible to be appointed for the said post. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs. Cont.P.No.3191 of 20256.In view of the above order passed in both the writ petitions, the contempt petition in Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025 is closed. Consequently, 8/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025the connected sub application is also closed. 18.11.2025Neutral citation: Yes/No (3/3)Index: Yes/NoSpeaking/Non-speaking orderlokG.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.lokTo1.THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT, MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION AND WATER SUPPLY DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, CHENNAI 600 0092.THE DIRECTORATE MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION,75-SANTHOME HIGH ROAD, PATTINAMPAKKAM M.R.C. NAGAR, R.A. PURAM, CHENNAI 600 0283.ANNA UNIVERSITY,REPRESENTED BY ITS CONTROLLER OF EXAMINATION,OLD HIGH WAYS BUILDING, SARDAR PATEL, GUINDY, CHENNAI 600 0254.TWAD BOARD,REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECOR, EZHILAGAM, CHEPUAK CHENNAI 600 005W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 andWMP.No.33362 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 2025 andSub.Appln.No.1071 of 20259/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.12097 & 12522 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.3191 of 202518.11.2025(3/3)10/10