High Court · 2025

WP No. 22883 of 2018 & 26997/2018IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED: 14-02-2025CORAMTHE HONOURABLE MS JUSTICE R.N.MANJULAWP No. 22883 of 2018ANDWMP NO. 26756 OF 2018,WMP NO. 31384 OF 2018,WP NO. 26997 OF 20181. M.AgilaD/o. P.Murthy, Plot No. 268 and 269, Zion Star, T.V.S. Nagar Extension, 4th Cross Street, Korattur, Chennai.Petitioner(s)Vs.1. The Chairman,Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Frazer Bridge Road, Chennai - 32.The Secretary to GovernmentTourism Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort ST. George, Chennai - 93.The Managing Director,Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., Wallajah Road, 1/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 22883 of 2018 & 26997/2018Chennai - 2Respondent(s)WP No. 26997 of 20181. M.AgilaD/o. P.Murthy, Plot No. 268 and 269, Zion Star, T.V.S. Nagar Extension, 4th Cross Street, Korattur, ChennaiPetitioner(s)Vs1. The Chairman,Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Frazer Bridge Road, Chennai - 32.The Secretary to GovernmentTourism Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort ST. George, Chennai - 93.The Managing Director,Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., Wallajah Road, Chennai – 24. The Deputy SecretaryTamil Nadu Public Service Commission,Frazer Bridge Road,Chennai – 600 003.2/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 22883 of 2018 & 26997/2018Respondent(s)WP No. 22883 of 2018PRAYER : Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to declare the explanation clause in paragraph 5 vide Notification No. 11/ 2017 dated 09.05.2017 of the 1st respondent prescribing education qualification with regard to language proficiency as ultravires and inconsistent with the rules and regulations and not applicable to the petitioner.WP No. 26997 of 2018PRAYER : Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to call for the records pertaining to the impugned proceedings dated 20.09.2018 vide Memorandum No.2772/APD-A2/2017 by the 4th Respondent and quash the same and direct the Respondents to reconsider the candidature of the Petition to the post of Tourism Officer under recruitment and not applicable to the Petitioner.W.P.No.22883/2018For Petitioner(s):M/s.Prathik Y.Jainfor M/s.V.ManoharFor Respondent(s):M/s.I.Abrar Mohammed Abdullah R1M/s.T.Chezhian, Agp For R2 And R3W.P.No.26997/20183/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 22883 of 2018 & 26997/2018For Petitioner(s):M/s.Prathik Y.Jainfor M/s.V.ManoharFor Respondent(s):M/s.I.Abrar Mohammed Abdullah R1M/s.T.Chezhian, Agp For R2 to R4COMMON ORDERW.P.No.22883/2018 has been filed to declare the explanation clause in paragraph 5 vide Notification No. 11/ 2017 dated 09.05.2017 of the 1st respondent as ultra vires and inconsistent with the rules and regulations and not applicable to the petitioner. W.P.No.26997/2018 has been filed challenging the impugned proceedings of the 4th Respondent dated 20.09.2018 vide Memorandum No.2772/APD-A2/2017 and direct the Respondents to reconsider the candidature of the Petitioner to the post of Tourism Officer under recruitment.2. In response to the notification issued by the first respondent calling for the application to the post of Tourism Officer, the petitioner had participated in the written examination. However, she was found to be qualified in the written examination and thereafter, she was called for certificate verification. At that point her candidature was rejected for the following reasons:4/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 22883 of 2018 & 26997/2018(i) She has not studied “Tamil Language” as one of the subject in degree course.(ii) She had not possessed 'Computer on Office Automation' course awarded by DOTE or it's Equivalent.”3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner had studied in Tamil Language until her higher secondary examinations and she is proficient in both Tamil and English languages. He further submitted that the explanation given in the notification for proficiency for the languages is ultra vires. In the explanation given to the educational qualification in the notification, it is stated that the applicants should have passed English and Tamil language in degree course. According to the petitioner the above condition is unconstitutional. The petitioner submits that the mother tongue for the petitioner is Tamil and she is well versed in Tamil. In such case the explanation given causes an embargo for candidates similar to the petitioner to enter into the tourism service. 4. The application for the petitioner has not been rejected only for want of proficiency in Tamil Language as found in the explanation but also for not possessing the certificate course in 'Computer in Office Automation'. Even though the persons similar to the petitioner may be well versed in Tamil that cannot serve as a criteria for prescribing an educational qualification by a 5/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 22883 of 2018 & 26997/2018recruitment agency like that of the first respondent. Whatever qualification one has in any informal mode cannot be recognized by any University or educational institution unless someone participates in the qualifying examination and get a pass certificate to that effect.5. So far as the post for which the application is called for it is prerogative of the first respondent to prescribe the necessary qualification. According to the first respondent the proficiency in the Tamil is accepted only if a candidate possesses a certificate to show that he / she had studied Tamil language in his / her degree course. There should be uniformity in prescribing the qualification and hence the first respondent cannot be blamed for not taking into consideration a person who is well versed in Tamil or English, but who have not studied it as a language in their degree course. 6. When the appropriate authority prescribes the qualification for appointing a person to a particular post, the applicants are expected to fulfil that qualification. If they do not possess the necessary qualification, it is not wrong on the part of the first respondent to reject their application summarily. Since the first respondent is required to maintain uniformity in prescribing educational qualifications, I do not find any unconstitutionality in explaining proficiency as having studied the language as part of a degree course.6/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 22883 of 2018 & 26997/20187. Since the petitioner had not studied Tamil as a language not only in her degree course but she also does not possess any certificate in Computer in Office Automation, I do not find any merits in these writ petitions and the same are liable to be dismissed.8. Accordingly, these writ petitions are dismissed. No costs. Connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.14-02-2025Index:Yes/NoSpeaking/Non-speaking orderInternet:YesNeutral Citation:Yes/Nobkn7/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 22883 of 2018 & 26997/2018To1.The Chairman,Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Frazer Bridge Road, Chennai - 32.The Secretary to GovernmentTourism Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort ST. George, Chennai - 93.The Managing Director,Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., Wallajah Road, Chennai – 24. The Deputy Secretary,Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Frazer Bridge Road, Chennai.8/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP No. 22883 of 2018 & 26997/2018 R.N.MANJULA, J.,bknWP No. 22883 of 2018AND WMP NO. 26756 OF 2018,WMP NO. 31384 OF 2018,WP NO. 26997 OF 201814-02-20259/9