High Court · 2025

W.P.No.37615 of 2025IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED : 08.10.2025CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRAW.P.No.37615 of 2025 andWMP No.42094 of 20251 A.Elumalai2 S.Aravinthasamy 3 S.Kathiravan4 R.Muthupandi5 Mathi6 S.Kumaresan7 M.Jayalakshmi ... PetitionersVs.1 The Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Home (Police-III) Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600009.2 The Inspector General of Police / Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Egmore Chennai- 8.... RespondentsPrayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records pertaining to G.O.(Ms).No.410, Home (Police-III) Department dated 18.08.2025 on the file of the 1st Respondent and Circular C.No.R2/1010/2025 dated 11.09.2025 on the file of the 2nd Respondent and quash the same insofar as they relate to the conduct of a common examination for open quota candidates and department candidates and direct the respondents to conduct the selection for the departmental candidates and direct the respondents to conduct the selection for the post of Sub-Inspector of Police for the year 2025 strictly as per Notification No.1/2025 dated 04.04.2025 and the existing rules.For Petitioner : Mr.M.S.Soundararajan1 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.37615 of 2025For Respondents : Mr.V.Jeevagiridharan, Additional Government Pleader for R1 Mr.P.Kumaresan, Additional Advocate General Assisted by Ms.Sowmi Dattan, Standing Counsel for R2 ORDERThis writ petition has been filed seeking to call for the records pertaining to G.O.(Ms).No.410, Home (Police-III) Department dated 18.08.2025 on the file of the 1st Respondent and Circular C.No.R2/1010/2025 dated 11.09.2025 on the file of the 2nd Respondent and quash the same insofar as they relate to the conduct of a common examination for open quota candidates and department candidates and direct the respondents to conduct the selection for the departmental candidates and also to conduct the selection for the post of Sub-Inspector of Police for the year 2025 strictly as per Notification No.1/2025 dated 04.04.2025 and the existing rules.2. Mr.V.Jeevagiridharan, learned Additional Government Pleader takes notice for first respondent and Ms.Sowmi Dattan, learned Standing Counsel who is led by Mr.P.Kumaresan, Additional Advocate General takes notice for the second respondent.3. By consent, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal today at the admission stage itself.2 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.37615 of 20254. According to the petitioner, as per Notification No.1/2025, the departmental quota of 20% is reserved for all serving police personnel, provided they satisfy the eligibility criteria under Rule 14 of the Tamil Nadu Police Subordinate Service Rules. The petitioners have also applied for the said post. In this circumstance, while the departmental candidates were preparing for the written examination, the 2nd respondent issued Circular No.R2/1010/2025, dated 11.09.2025 based on G.O.Ms.No.410, Home (Police–III), Department, dated 18.08.2025, directing to conduct common examination for both departmental and open quota candidates, which according to the petitioners is contrary to the principles of natural justice. Hence, they have filed the present writ petition.5. Mr.M.S.Soundararajan, learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that as per the notification dated 04.04.2025, there is no physical measurement test or physical efficiency test for departmental candidates and written examination is to be conducted for departmental candidates and the open quota candidates separately. But, as per G.O.MS.No.410, dated 18.08.2025, a direction has been issued to conduct one common examination for both open quota and departmental candidates. He would 3 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.37615 of 2025further submit that when the recruitment process has already been started, it is impermissible to change what had been already decided by the authorities during the selection process and hence, he prayed for setting aside of the impugned orders.6. Per contra, Mr.V.Jeevagiridharan, learned Additional Government Pleader would submit that the Hon'ble Apex Court, in R.Ranjith Singh and ors. Vs. State of Tamil Nadu and ors. reported in 2025 SCC Online Sc 1009, has directed the State Government hereinafter to conduct one common examination for 100% direct recruitment for appointment to the post of Sub-Inspector of Police which includes 80% from open market and 20% from in-service candidates and their seniority would be assigned based upon the marks obtained by individual candidates / rank assigned by appointing authority in the list of selected candidates. In such view of the matter, the State Government has decided to scrap all the earlier notifications and only pursuant to the order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Ranjith Singh case cited supra, G.O.Ms.No.410, Home (Police – III), Department, dated 18.08.2025 has been passed. As against the said order, the Review petition has also been filed by the State of Tamil Nadu in Diary No(S).30381 of 2025 and the same was dismissed. 4 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.37615 of 2025 7. No doubt, the respondents have earlier issued notification No.1 of 2025 dated 04.04.2025 for direct recruitment to the post of Sub Inspector of Police. Subsequently, based on the direction issued by the Hon'ble Apex Court in Ranjith Singh case cited supra, G.O.Ms.No.410, dated 18.08.2025 has been passed, directing to conduct one common examination for both open quota and departmental candidates. Accordingly, the State Government has decided to scrap all the earlier notifications which cannot be said to be incorrect in the eye of law. At this juncture, it is relevant to note that the Hon'ble Apex Court in Ranjith Singh case cited supra, while disposing of the Civil Appeal, issued following directions:"a) The respondents shall recast all gradation list issued from time to time in respect of direct recruitment which includes 20% in-service candidates recruited directly to the post of Sub-Inspector of Police by granting seniority on the basis of marks obtained in the qualifying examination/selection process. The exercise of recasting and issuance of revised gradation list be positively concluded within a period of 60 days from today. b) The respondent State shall not revert any officer who has been given further promotion on the basis of the seniority list already issued by the Department from 1995; 5 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.37615 of 2025however, the respondent State shall not issue any promotion order in respect of departmental candidates till the revised seniority list is issued as aforesaid. c) That, after issuance of revised seniority list, the State Government shall consider the cases of all departmental candidates for promotion to the next higher post keeping in view the promotions granted to the juniors (based upon the revised seniority list) and the exercise of granting promotions be concluded in respect of the direct recruitees (80%) quota within a period of two months from the date of issuance of revised seniority list.d) The direct recruits, in case they are found fit for promotion to the next higher post will be entitled for notional promotion, fixation of seniority and all other consequential benefits except back wages on grant of promotion to the next higher post.e) The State Government shall hereinafter conduct one common examination for 100% direct recruitment for appointment to the post of Sub-Inspector of Police which includes 80% from open market and 20% from in-service candidates and their seniority shall be assigned based upon the marks obtained by individual candidates/rank assigned by appointing authority in the list of selected candidates."8. In view of the above, this Court does not find any reason to interfere with either G.O.(Ms).No.410, Home (Police-III) Department 6 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.37615 of 2025dated 18.08.2025 on the file of the 1st Respondent or Circular C.No.R2/1010/2025 dated 11.09.2025 on the file of the 2nd Respondent. 9. Accordingly, this writ petition stands dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous petition is closed.08.10.2025Index: Yes/NoSpeaking Order: Yes/NoNeutral Citation : Yes / NovumTo:1 The Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Home (Police-III) Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600009.2 The Inspector General of Police / Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Egmore Chennai- 8.A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA ,J., vum7 of 8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.37615 of 2025W.P.No.37615 of 2025 andWMP No.42094 of 202508.10.2025(3/3)8 of 8