High Court · 2025

W.P.Nos.45977 & 45982 of 2025IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED : 01.12.2025CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANIW.P.Nos.45977 and 45982 of 2025and W.M.P.No.51279 of 20251.N.Ranganayaki2.V.Kumari ... Petitioners in both petitions Vs.1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep.by its Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.2.The Director of Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Directorate of Municipal Administration, 11th Floor, Urban Administrative Building, Santhome High Road, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalaipuram,_________Page 1 of 12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.45977 & 45982 of 2025 Chennai-600 028. ....Respondents in both petitionsPRAYER in W.P.No.45977 of 2025: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the second respondent to treat the B.E.Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering possessed by the petitioners as equivalent to B.E.Degree in Electrical Engineering and consequently as a higher qualification than Diploma in Electrical Engineering based on G.O.Ms.No.262, Higher Education (J2) Department dated 28.07.2009 and Resolution No.11 of G.O.Ms.No.178, Higher Education (J1) Department, dated 17.07.2015, read with Section 25, Explanation-II of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants (Conditions of Service) Act, 2016 and consequently, directing the respondents to issue appointment orders to the petitioners with registration numbers 45115033 and 47135333 as Work Inspectors under their respective communal categories pursuant to Notification _________Page 2 of 12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.45977 & 45982 of 2025No.01/DMA/Recruitment/2024, dated 02.02.2024 issued by the second respondent within a time frame to be fixed by this Court. PRAYER in W.P.No.45982 of 2025: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the second respondent to remove/delete the register numbers of the petitioners being 45115033 and 47135333 from the withheld list published by the second respondent in connection with the recruitment to the post of Work Inspector pursuant to Notification No.01/DMA/Recruitment/2024, dated 02.02.2024 issued by the second respondent.In both petitionsFor Petitioners : Ms.Nalini Chitambaram Senior Counsel for Ms.C.UmaFor Respondents : Mr.M.Suresh Kumar Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.C.Selvaraj Additional Government Pleader _________Page 3 of 12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.45977 & 45982 of 2025 C O M M O N O R D E RW.P.No.45977 of 2025 has been filed to direct the second respondent to treat B.E.Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering possessed by the petitioners as equivalent to B.E.Degree in Electrical Engineering and consequently as a higher qualification than Diploma in Electrical Engineering based on G.O.Ms.No.262, Higher Education (J2) Department dated 28.07.2009 and Resolution No.11 of G.O.Ms.No.178, Higher Education (J1) Department, dated 17.07.2015, read with Section 25, Explanation-II of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants (Conditions of Service) Act, 2016 and for a consequential direction to the respondents to issue appointment orders to the petitioners with registration numbers 45115033 and 47135333 as Work Inspectors under their respective communal categories pursuant to Notification No.01/DMA/Recruitment/2024, dated 02.02.2024 issued by the second _________Page 4 of 12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.45977 & 45982 of 2025respondent within a time frame fixed by this Court. 2. W.P.No.45982 of 2025 has been filed for a direction to the second respondent to remove/delete the register numbers of the petitioners being 45115033 and 47135333 from the withheld list published by the second respondent and issue appointment orders to the petitioners. 3. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that the petitioners have completed B.E.Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering and they have applied for the post of Work Inspector in Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department. The petitioners were also issued with hall tickets for the examination and after examination, the petitioners were called for certificate verification and interview and counseling letter and provisional selection _________Page 5 of 12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.45977 & 45982 of 2025order were also issued. However, at that point of time, the second respondent issued a letter dated 17.04.2025 directing the petitioners to produce the Equivalent Certificate, pursuant to which, the petitioners gave representations to the first respondent to consider their qualification as equivalent to B.E.Degree in Electrical Engineering and issue Equivalent Certificate. However, the said representations have not been evoked any response till date. 4. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners further submits that though the petitioners have come out successfully in all the selection process, however their appointments have been withheld only on the ground that the Equivalent Certificate with regard to qualification of the petitioners to certify that B.E Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering is equivalent to B.E Degree in Electrical Engineering has not _________Page 6 of 12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.45977 & 45982 of 2025been produced by the petitioners. Though the representations have been given by the petitioners seeking Equivalent Certificate from the first respondent, till date, no orders have been passed which has resulted in the name of the petitioner being shown in the withheld list. Therefore, it is appropriate that necessary directions may be issued to the first respondent to pass orders on the representations given by the petitioners certifying that the qualification of the degree obtained by the petitioner is equivalent to B.E. in Electrical Engineering and consequentially, remove the names of the petitioners from the withheld list and issue appointment orders to the petitioners based on the Equivalent Certificate that is granted by the first respondent. 5. Per contra, the learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents submits that similar issue sought for by the petitioners was _________Page 7 of 12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.45977 & 45982 of 2025already decided by this Court. However, the representations of the petitioners will be considered and appropriate orders will be passed within a reasonable time fixed by this Court. 6. Heard the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners and the learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents. 7. Considering the limited request made by the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners, this Court, without going into the merits of the case, directs the second respondent to consider the representations of the petitioners dated 25.04.2025 and pass appropriate orders in accordance with the Tamil Nadu Government Servants (Conditions of Service) Act, 2016 and the relevant Government Orders. Pursuant to the same, the second respondent is directed to consider the case of the _________Page 8 of 12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.45977 & 45982 of 2025petitioners for removing their names in the withheld list and pass appropriate orders. The entire exercise shall be completed within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order8. Accordingly, these Writ Petitions are disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 01.12.2025 NCC: Yes / NoIndex : Yes / NoSpeaking Order : Yes / NossbNote: Issue order copy on 02.12.2025. _________Page 9 of 12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.45977 & 45982 of 2025To1.The Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.2.The Director of Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Directorate of Municipal Administration, 11th Floor, Urban Administrative Building, Santhome High Road, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai-600 028. _________Page 10 of 12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.45977 & 45982 of 2025M.DHANDAPANI, J. ssbW.P.Nos.45977 and 45982 of 2025_________Page 11 of 12 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.45977 & 45982 of 202501.12.2025_________Page 12 of 12