High Court · 2025

W.P.Nos.35908 & 35934 of 2025IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED: 26.09.2025CORAM:THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYANW.P.Nos.35908 & 35934 of 2025 andWMP.Nos.40177, 40178, 40181, 40196, 40198 & 40200 of 2025WP.No.35908 of 2025Sastha Chandralehaa.R ... PetitionerVs.1.The Union of India,Rep. By its Secretary,Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment,Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi 110 0012.The Union Territory of Puducherry,Rep.by its Chief Secretary,Chief Secretariat,Puducherry 605 0013.The Directorate of Higher & Technical Education,Rep. By its Director,Thattanchavady,Puducherry 605 0094.The Centralised Admission Committee(CENTAC),Rep.by its Convenor,PEC Campus, Pillaichavady,Puducherry 605 0145.The National Medical Commission(NMC),1/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.35908 & 35934 of 2025Rep. By its Secretary, Pocket-14,Sector-8, Dwarka Phase I,New Delhi 110 0776.Jayasri.J ... RespondentsPRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned provisional merit list dated 12.08.2025 and the merit list dated 14.08.2025 issued by the 4th respondent- CENTAC (Centralised Admission Committee), Puducherry, under the Scheduled Caste category for UG-Medical courses including MBBS admissions to the UT of Puducherry quota and quash the said impugned lists insofar as they include candidates who have obtained admission under the SC quota on the basis of maternal-origin certificates and/or as wards of migrant scheduled castes, contrary to the constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964, the MSJE circular dated 22.02.2018 and the MHA clarification dated 17.07.2025, consequently direct the 3rd and 4th respondent – CENTAC to recast the merit list for UG-Medical courses including MBBS admissions under the SC category strictly in accordance with the Constitution (Pondicherry) 2/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.35908 & 35934 of 2025Scheduled Castes Order, 1964, the Admission Prospectus conditions, and the binding policy directions of the Government of India, by considering only genuine Scheduled Caste candidates of Puducherry including the petitioner. For Petitioner: Mr.P.R.ThiruneelakandanFor Respondents For R1 : M/s.S.S.Meenakumari, Senior Panel Counsel For R2 to 4: Mr.J.Kumaran, Additional Government Pleader(P)For R5: Mrs.Subharanjani Ananth, Standing CounselWP.No.35934 of 2025Sastha Chandrakanth.R ... PetitionerVs.1.The Union of India,Rep. By its Secretary,Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment,Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi 110 0012.The Union Territory of Puducherry,Rep.by its Chief Secretary,3/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.35908 & 35934 of 2025Chief Secretariat,Puducherry 605 0013.The Directorate of Higher & Technical Education,Rep. By its Director,Thattanchavady,Puducherry 605 0094.The Centralised Admission Committee(CENTAC),Rep.by its Convenor,PEC Campus, Pillaichavady,Puducherry 605 0145.The National Medical Commission(NMC),Rep. By its Secretary, Pocket-14,Sector-8, Dwarka Phase I,New Delhi 110 0776.Jayasri.J ... RespondentsPRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records relating to the impugned provisional merit list dated 12.08.2025 and the merit list dated 14.08.2025 issued by the 4th respondent- CENTAC (Centralised Admission Committee), Puducherry, under the Scheduled Caste category for UG-Medical courses including MBBS admissions to the UT of Puducherry quota and quash the said impugned 4/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.35908 & 35934 of 2025lists insofar as they include candidates who have obtained admission under the SC quota on the basis of maternal-origin certificates and/or as wards of migrant scheduled castes, contrary to the constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964, the MSJE circular dated 22.02.2018 and the MHA clarification dated 17.07.2025, consequently direct the 3rd and 4th respondent – CENTAC to recast the merit list for UG-Medical courses including MBBS admissions under the SC category strictly in accordance with the Constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964, the Admission Prospectus conditions, and the binding policy directions of the Government of India, by considering only genuine Scheduled Caste candidates of Puducherry including the petitioner. For Petitioner: Mr.P.R.ThiruneelakandanFor Respondents For R1 : M/s.S.S.Meenakumari, Senior Panel Counsel For R2 to 4: Mr.J.Kumaran, Additional Government Pleader(P)5/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.35908 & 35934 of 2025For R5: Mrs.Subharanjani Ananth, Standing CounselCOMMON ORDERBoth the writ petitions have been filed praying to quash the provisional merit list dated 12.08.2025 and the merit list dated 14.08.2025 issued by the 4th respondent-CENTAC (Centralised Admission Committee), Puducherry, under the Scheduled Caste category for UG-Medical courses including MBBS admissions to the UT of Puducherry quota insofar as inclusion of candidates who have obtained admission under the SC quota on the basis of maternal-origin certificates and/or as wards of migrant scheduled castes, contrary to the constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964, the MSJE circular dated 22.02.2018 and the MHA clarification dated 17.07.2025.2.Heard, the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused all the materials placed before this Court.6/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.35908 & 35934 of 20253.On perusal of records, it is revealed that this Court already dismissed the writ petition in WP.No.34755 of 2025 on 16.09.2025, in respect of the same issue involved in this writ petition. The relevant portion of the said order is extracted hereunder:“2. This Writ Petition has been filed challenging the provisional merit list dated 12.08.2025 and the merit list dated 14.08.2025, issued by the fourth respondent, under the Scheduled Caste category for UG Medical courses in the Union Territory of Puducherry quota.3. The petitioner is a permanent resident of the Union Territory of Puducherry. He applied under the Scheduled Caste category of the Government quota (Union Territory of Puducherry) for the MBBS course 2025-26. He was assigned 74th rank in the final merit list for Scheduled Caste candidates published by the fourth respondent. The petitioner challenged the selection of candidates in Sl.Nos.4, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24, 29, 32, 42, 43, 53, 66, and 95, as they were included under the Puducherry Scheduled Caste quota despite being wards of migrants from other states. According to the petitioner, those candidates were children of migrant fathers belonging to other states and had 7/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.35908 & 35934 of 2025obtained Scheduled Caste community certificates in Puducherry based only on their mother's origin. The wrongful inclusion of such ineligible candidates violates Articles 14, 15(4), 16(4), and 341 of the Constitution of India.4. On perusal of the records, it is revealed that since the petitioner was not selected under the Scheduled Caste candidates list published by the fourth respondent, he challenged the selected candidates- list under the Scheduled Caste quota on the ground that some of the candidates were migrants from other states and had obtained Scheduled Caste certificates on the strength of their mother's origin. However, the prayer itself is an omnibus one, since it was made without impleading the selected candidates and with general allegations without specifying those candidates.5. Though the petitioner impleaded one of the selected candidates under the Scheduled Caste quota as the sixth respondent, the petitioner failed to furnish any documents to prove that the sixth respondent had obtained the Scheduled Caste certificate in an illegal manner. Therefore, this Court finds no infirmity or illegality in the merit list issued by the fourth respondent, and the Writ Petition is devoid of merits.”8/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.35908 & 35934 of 20254.That apart, the same issue was dealt with by the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in WP.No.34929 of 2023 and the Hon'ble Division Bench by order dated 21.12.2023, held as follows:16. It is made clear that whenever an application is made for issuance of community certificate based on the mother's origin along with supporting documents, the Revenue Authorities shall satisfy himself on the veracity of the documents and if satisfied shall issue the certificate without driving the individual to seek for separate judicial order. No costs. Consequently connected miscellaneous petition is closed.5.Therefore, this Court finds no infirmity or illegality in the provisional merit list dated 12.08.2025 and the merit list dated 14.08.2025 issued by the 4th respondent. As such, both the writ petitions are liable to be dismissed. Accordingly, both the writ petitions are dismissed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. There shall be no order as to costs.26.09.2025Neutral citation: Yes/No Index: Yes/NoSpeaking/Non-speaking orderlok9/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.35908 & 35934 of 2025G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.lokTo1.Secretary,The Union of India,Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment,Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi 110 0012.Chief Secretary,The Union Territory of Puducherry,Chief Secretariat,Puducherry 605 0013.Director,The Directorate of Higher & Technical Education,Thattanchavady,Puducherry 605 0094.Convenor,The Centralised Admission Committee(CENTAC),PEC Campus, Pillaichavady,Puducherry 605 0145.Secretary,The National Medical Commission(NMC),Pocket-14,Sector-8, Dwarka Phase I,New Delhi 110 0776.The Government Advocate,High Court of MadrasW.P.Nos.35908 & 35934 of 202526.09.202510/10