High Court · 2025

WP(MD)No.35882 of 2025BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURTDATED : 15.12.2025 CORAM:THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHIWP(MD)No.35882 of 2025 and WMP(MD) No.28526 of 2025Naveen ... PetitionerVs1.The State of Tamil Nadu Rep, By its Principal Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Fort St.George, Chennai -9.2.The Commissioner, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Panagal Building, Chennai - 15.3.The District Level Committee, The Chairman Cum District Collector, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli. ...Respondents1/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35882 of 2025Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records pertaining online rejection order issued by the 3rd respondent in his proceedings Nil dated 05.12.2025 and quash the same as illegal, consequently directing the 3rd respondents to consider the petitioner for the post of Village Panchayat Secretary by adopting a fair, transparent, and rule-based selection process in accordance with the Tamil Nadu Village Panchayat Secretaries (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2013 and G.O.Ms.No.198 dated 04.09.2025For Petitioner : T.LeninkumarFor Respondents : Mr.Ajmal Khan Additional Advocate General Assisted by Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar Special Government PleaderO R D E RThe petitioner has applied for the post of Village Panchayat Secretary in Tirunelveli, as per the notification of the District Level Committee/ Chairman Cum District Collector, Tirunelveli, in NU12/3848480/2025, dated 08.10.2025. The 2/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35882 of 2025petitioner, with a grievance that though he has fulfilled all the eligibility conditions, he was not selected for the interview and no reasons were assigned by the respondent Department for rejection of the petitioner's candidature, has approached this Court.2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner by referring to Rule 3(2) of the Tamil Nadu Village Panchayat Secretaries (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Rules') submits that the Village Panchayat Secretaries shall be selected through open competitive recruitment process and also as ordered by the Government. There was no proper open competitive recruitment process adopted in selecting the candidates for the Village Panchayat Secretaries and therefore, the petitioner has not been shortlisted for the interview, though he has secured 447 marks in the 10th standard.3/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35882 of 20253.The learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents submits that the petitioner, under the impression that the open competitive recruitment process as mentioned in Rule 3(2) of the Rules amounts to written examination, has filed this writ petition. The learned Additional Advocate General has clarified that the Government of Tamil Nadu has issued certain directions as to the manner, in which, the recruitment process has to be conducted, vide G.O.Ms.No.198, Rural Development Panchayati Raj (E5) Department, dated 04.09.2025. As per this Government Order, the Panchayat Secretaries will be selected based on the evaluation of the marks obtained in 10th standard public examination and interview. This Government Order also prescirbed that 85% marks to be awarded based on the marks obtained in the 10th standard public examination and 15% marks to be awarded for interview. The evaluation of the marks is also prescribed in clause VII of the said Government Order.4/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35882 of 20254.With regard to the interview also, the learned Additional Advocate General clarified the manner in which the interview marks are awarded as per clause X of the said G.O. Therefore, according to the learned Additional Advocate General, the selection process has been conducted in a proper manner and there is no violation in the selection process. He further submits that the general rank list has also been published in the official website of the Tamil Nadu Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, as directed by this Court. Moreover, the cut off marks is 82.79 and this petitioner has secured only 75.99 marks and therefore, the petitioner do not fall within the zone of consideration and therefore, he has not been selected.5.This Court considered the rival submissions made and also perused the materials placed on record. 6.The petitioner has applied for the post of Village 5/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35882 of 2025Panchayat Secretary, pursuant to the notification issued by the District Administration. The selection of Village Panchayat Secretary is made as per the Tamil Nadu Village Panchayat Secretaries (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2023. As per Rule 3 of the Rules, the Village Panchayat Secretary shall be selected only by direct recruitment and through open competitive recruitment process. The recruitment shall be done by the District Level Committee chaired by the District Collector and consisting of Project Director/Additional Collector (Development), District Rural Development Agency, Assistant Director (Panchayats) and Personal Assistant to Collector (Development) as its members and the recruitment shall be done in the manner as may be ordered by the Government. 7. The Government vide G.O.Ms.No.198, Rural Development Panchayat Raj Department dated 04.09.2025 have issued guidelines for appointment of Village Panchayat Secretaries, 6/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35882 of 2025as per the Tamil Nadu Village Panchayat Secretaries (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2023. As per the guidelines issued in the said G.O., the marks obtained in the 10th standard public examination and marks secured during the interview are the main criteria for selection of the candidates and 85% marks to be awarded for the marks obtained in the 10th standard and 15% marks to be awarded for interview. The evaluation of 10th standard mark is also by calculating the percentage of total marks secured by the candidates. Based on this evaluation, the rank list of the applicants would be published and the candidates would be selected for interview in the ratio of 1:5 in descending order of the merit list for the total vacancies allotted in each rotation system. In the event, if there is shortage for 1:5 ratio, total number of candidates applied should be called to participate in the interview. It is also reported that the general rank list has also been published in the official website of the Tamil Nadu Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, as directed by this Court. Insofar as the petitioner is concerned he has 7/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35882 of 2025secured 75.99 marks out of the cut off marks 82.79 and therefore, he has not been selected for interview. 8.Since it is reported that the entire selection process has been done in a fair and proper manner and also in accordance with the Rules/Government Order and also the petitioner has not secured the cut off marks as prescribed, this writ petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous petitions are closed. 15.12.2025NCC:Yes/NoIndex:YesInternet:Yesvrn8/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35882 of 2025To1.The Principal Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Fort St.George, Chennai -9.2.The Commissioner, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Panagal Building, Chennai - 15.3.The District Level Committee, The Chairman Cum District Collector, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli.9/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35882 of 2025B.PUGALENDHI.J.,vrnOrder made inWP(MD)No.35882 of 2025 andWMP(MD) No.28526 of 202515.12.202510/10