Madras High Court
Tamil Nadu Generation And Distribution ... vs M.Murugesan on 6 April, 2026
Author: S. M. Subramaniam
Bench: S. M. Subramaniam
W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 06.04.2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM
AND
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K. SURENDER
W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
and
C.M.P.Nos.22348, 18449, 18806, 18808, 20024, 20025 of 2022, 504, 512,
561, 563, 576 of 2023
and
W.P.No.5906 of 2021 and W.M.P.No.6521 of 2021
W.A.Nos.2751 of 2022
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited
Represented by Chief Engineer / Personnel
No.144, Anna Salai,
Chennai-600 002. ... Appellant
vs.
1. M.Murugesan
S/o.Muniyasamy
2. S.Vijaya Prapakaran
S/o.A.Selvaraj
3. G.A.Kubendran
S/o.G.R.Ayyaan
4. M.Jegadesh
S/o. S.Muthuraj
Page Nos.1/34
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
5. M.Selvaraj
S/o.K.Muniyandi
6. S.Sankar Raj
S/o.G.Subburaj
7. P.Manojkumar
S/o.M.Palanisamy
8. S.Muthupandi
S/o.K.Sappani
9. M.Selvapandi
S/o.G.Mariappan
10. J.Uthirapathi
S/o.Jayabal
11. R.Arulmurugan
S/o.M.Rengasamy
12. The State of Tamil Nadu
Rep. By Secretary to Government
Department of Personnel and Revenue Administration
Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
13. T.Karthik
14. S.Ranjith
15. K.G.Manindher
16. Layola Francis Ebinezen
17. V.Parthasarathi
18. M.Viswanath
19. G.Manthiramoorthi
Page Nos.2/34
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
20. Balaji Durai
21. K.Theivasikamani
22. G.Gopalakrishnan
23. A.Vimal
24. Sureshbabu Kaniyappan
25. E.Prem Babu
26. B.Prabhakaran
27. Gopal Subramanian
28. C.Prakash
29. M.Arun
30. R.Manicka Selvam
31. M.Ramachandran
32. R.Suriyamohan … Respondents
Writ Appeal No.2751 of 2022 filed under Clause 15 of the Letters
Patent, praying to set aside the order dated 16.02.2022 in W.P.No.10639
of 2020.
For Appellant : Mr.Anandh Gopalan
M/s.T.S.Gopalan and Co
For Respondents : Mrs.Nalini Chidambaram
Senior Counsel
for Mrs.C.Uma and Mr.N.Umapathi,
for R1 and R2
*****
Page Nos.3/34
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
W.A.Nos.53 of 2023
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited
Represented by Chief Engineer / Personnel
No.144, Anna Salai,
Chennai-600 002. ... Appellant
vs.
1. M.Murugesan
S/o.Muniyasamy
2. S.Vijaya Prapakaran
S/o.A.Selvaraj
3. G.A.Kubendran
S/o.G.R.Ayyaan
4. M.Jegadesh
S/o. S.Muthuraj
5. M.Selvaraj
S/o.K.Muniyandi
6. S.Sankar Raj
S/o.G.Subburaj
7. P.Manojkumar
S/o.M.Palanisamy
8. S.Muthupandi
S/o.K.Sappani
9. M.Selvapandi
S/o.G.Mariappan
10. J.Uthirapathi
S/o.Jayabal
Page Nos.4/34
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
11. R.Arulmurugan
S/o.M.Rengasamy
12. The State of Tamil Nadu
Rep. By Secretary to Government
Department of Personnel and Revenue Administration
Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009.
13. T.Karthik
14. S.Ranjith
15. K.G.Manindher
16. Layola Francis Ebinezen
17. V.Parthasarathi
18. M.Viswanath
19. G.Manthiramoorthi
20. Balaji Durai
21. K.Theivasikamani
22. G.Gopalakrishnan
23. A.Vimal
24. Sureshbabu Kaniyappan
25. E.Prem Babu
26. B.Prabhakaran
27. Gopal Subramanian
Page Nos.5/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
28. C.Prakash
29. M.Arun
30. R.Manicka Selvam
31. M.Ramachandran
32. R.Suriyamohan … Respondents
Writ Appeal No.53 of 2023 filed under Clause 15 of the Letters
Patent, praying to set aside the order dated 16.02.2022 in W.P.No.10646
of 2020.
For Appellant : Mr.Anandh Gopalan
M/s.T.S.Gopalan and Co
For Respondents : Mrs.Nalini Chidambaram
Senior Counsel
for Mrs.C.Uma and Mr.N.Umapathi,
for R1 and R2
*****
W.A.No.54 of 2023
1. Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited
Represented by Chairman
No.144, Anna Salai,
Chennai-600 002.
2. The Chief Engineer / Personnel
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation
No.144, Anna Salai,
Chennai-600 002. ... Appellants
vs.
1. G.Rajesh
S/o.C.George
Page Nos.6/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
2. R.Muththarasu
S/o.R.Ranganathan
3. G.Ramesh
S/o. (Late) S.Ganapathy
4. S.Kangaraj
S/o.P.Selvaraj
5. T.Tamilmaran
S/o.Thiraviam
6. K.Sangeetha
S/o.P.Kathirvel
7. H.Yuvashree
D/o.L.Hanumantharajan
8. C.Rajasekar
S/o.M.Chelladurai
9. V.Veeramani
S/o.S.Varatharajan
10. A.Vincent Vijayakumar
S/o.S.Arokiasamy
11. S.Jahir Hussain
S/o.S.Sherfudeen
12. P.Kanagaraj
S/o.K.Palanisamy
13. G.Sangeeth
D/o.G.Gnanasekaran
14. K.Prakash
S/o.Kaligounder
Page Nos.7/34
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
15. The State of Tamil Nadu
Represented by Secretary to Government
Department of Personnel and Revenue Administration
Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
16. A.Kaliyamoorthi
17. S.Gowri
18. T.Mahadevan
19. A.Vaitheeswari
20. T.Rajasekar
21. M.Kamalakannan
22. S.Dharamaraj
23. G.Sivakala
24. N.Dhasarathan
25. S.Balamurugan Shanmugam
26. S.Narayanan
27. I.Gopalakrishnan
28. P.Arul Pandiyan
29. R.Gowthami
30. S.Maheswari
31. N.Dhakshnamoorthy
32. P.Muthaiya
Page Nos.8/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
33. M.Maheshwari
34. P.Anandaraj
35. Santhana Karuppasamy Govindaraj
36. K.Sathish Kumar
37. S.Ponraj
38. R.Ramdass
39. T.Saravanan
40. L.Arivazhagan
41. Nagendiran B
42. P.Kathiresan
43. Deenath I
44. K.Nagaraj
45. C.Avudaiselvan
46. S.Ravindran
47. T.Deebanraj
48. K.Suba Suresh
49. P.Mayaperumal Perumal
50. A.Karthy
51. R.Sethuraman
Page Nos.9/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
52. R.Thirunavukkarasu
53. A.Mahesh
54. R.Mohanraj
55. G.Ranjithkumar
56. G.Selvakumar
57. S.Sivaprakash
58. T.Gowthaman
59. V.Selvasundaram
60. S.Dhanesh Kumar … Respondents
Writ Appeal No.54 of 2023 filed under Clause 15 of the Letters
Patent, praying to set aside the order dated 16.02.2022 in W.P.No.15472
of 2020.
For Appellant : Mr.Anandh Gopalan
M/s.T.S.Gopalan and Co
For Respondents : Mrs.Nalini Chidambaram
Senior Counsel
for Mrs.C.Uma and Mr.N.Umapathi,
for R2
*****
W.A.No.61 of 2023
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited
Represented by Chief Engineer / Personnel
No.144, Anna Salai,
Chennai-600 002. ... Appellant
Page Nos.10/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
vs.
1. V.Praveen
S/o.A.Vijayamani
2. G.Bharathiraja
S/o. Late K.S.Gopal
3. M.Sathish
S/o.S.Murugan
4. The State of Tamil Nadu
Rep. By Secretary to Government
Department of Personnel and Revenue Administration
Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009.
5. T.Karthik
6. S.Ranjith
7. K.G.Manindher
8. Layola Francis Ebinezen
9. V.Parthasarathi
10. M.Viswanath
11. G.Manthiramoorthi
12. Balaji Durai
13. K.Theivasikamani
14. G.Gopalakrishnan
15. A.Vimal
Page Nos.11/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
16. Sureshbabu Kaniyappan
17. E.Prem Babu
18. B.Prabhakaran
19. Gopal Subramanian
20. C.Prakash
21. M.Arun
22. R.Manicka Selvam
23. M.Ramachandran
24. R.Suriyamohan
… Respondents
Writ Appeal No.61 of 2023 filed under Clause 15 of the Letters
Patent, praying to set aside the order dated 16.02.2022 in W.P.No.10939
of 2020.
For Appellant : Mr.Anandh Gopalan
M/s.T.S.Gopalan and Co
For Respondents : Mrs.Nalini Chidambaram
Senior Counsel
for Mrs.C.Uma and Mr.N.Umapathi,
for R1
*****
W.A.No.64 of 2023
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited
Represented by Chief Engineer / Personnel
No.144, Anna Salai,
Chennai-600 002. ... Appellant
Page Nos.12/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
vs.
1. V.Praveen
S/o.A.Vijayamani
2. G.Bharathiraja
S/o. Late K.S.Gopal
3. M.Sathish
S/o.S.Murugan
4. The State of Tamil Nadu
Rep. By Secretary to Government
Department of Personnel and Revenue Administration
Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009.
5. T.Karthik
6. S.Ranjith
7. K.G.Manindher
8. Layola Francis Ebinezen
9. V.Parthasarathi
10. M.Viswanath
11. G.Manthiramoorthi
12. Balaji Durai
13. K.Theivasikamani
14. G.Gopalakrishnan
15. A.Vimal
Page Nos.13/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
16. Sureshbabu Kaniyappan
17. E.Prem Babu
18. B.Prabhakaran
19. Gopal Subramanian
20. C.Prakash
21. M.Arun
22. R.Manicka Selvam
23. M.Ramachandran
24. R.Suriyamohan … Respondents
Writ Appeal No.64 of 2023 filed under Clause 15 of the Letters
Patent, praying to set aside the order dated 16.02.2022 in W.P.No.10945
of 2020.
For Appellant : Mr.Anandh Gopalan
M/s.T.S.Gopalan and Co
For Respondents : Mrs.Nalini Chidambaram
Senior Counsel
for Mrs.C.Uma and Mr.N.Umapathi,
for R1
*****
W.A.No.2399 of 2022
1. M.Murugesan
S/o.Muniyasamy
2. S.Vijaya Prapakaran
S/o.A.Selvaraj
Page Nos.14/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
3. G.A.Kubendran
S/o.G.R.Ayyaan
4. M.Jegadesh
S/o. S.Muthuraj
5. M.Selvaraj
S/o.K.Muniyandi
6. S.Sankar Raj
S/o.G.Subburaj
7. P.Manojkumar
S/o.M.Palanisamy
8. S.Muthupandi
S/o.K.Sappani
9. M.Selvapandi
S/o.G.Mariappan
10. J.Uthirapathi
S/o.Jayabal
11. R.Arulmurugan
S/o.M.Rengasamy ... Appellants
vs.
1. The State of Tamil Nadu
Rep. By Secretary to Government
Department of Personnel and Revenue Administration
Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009.
2. Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited
Represented by Chief Engineer / Personnel
No.144, Anna Salai,
Chennai-600 002.
Page Nos.15/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
3. T.Karthik
4. S.Ranjith
5. K.G.Manindher
6. Layola Francis Ebinezen
7. V.Parthasarathi
8. M.Viswanath
9. G.Manthiramoorthi
10. Balaji Durai
11. K.Theivasikamani
12. G.Gopalakrishnan
13. A.Vimal
14. Sureshbabu Kaniyappan
15. E.Prem Babu
16. B.Prabhakaran
17. Gopal Subramanian
18. C.Prakash
19. M.Arun
20. R.Manicka Selvam
21. M.Ramachandran
Page Nos.16/34
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
22. R.Suriyamohan … Respondents
Writ Appeal No.2399 of 2022 filed under Clause 15 of the Letters
Patent, praying to set aside the order dated 16.02.2022 in W.P.No.10639
of 2020.
For Appellants : Mrs.Nalini Chidambaram
Senior Counsel
for Mrs.C.Uma and Mr.N.Umapathi
For Respondents : Dr.S.Suriya
Additional Government Pleader,
for R1
Mr.Anand Gopalan
for M/s.T.S.Gopalan and Co, for R2
No appearance – For R3 to R22
*****
W.A.No.2437 of 2022
1. V.Praveen
S/o.A.Vijayamani
2. G.Bharathiraja
S/o. Late K.S.Gopal
3. M.Sathish
S/o.S.Murugan ... Appellants
vs.
1. The State of Tamil Nadu
Rep. By Secretary to Government
Department of Personnel and Revenue Administration
Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
2. Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited
Represented by Chief Engineer / Personnel
No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002.
Page Nos.17/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
3. T.Karthik
4. S.Ranjith
5. K.G.Manindher
6. Layola Francis Ebinezen
7. V.Parthasarathi
8. M.Viswanath
9. G.Manthiramoorthi
10. Balaji Durai
11. K.Theivasikamani
12. G.Gopalakrishnan
13. A.Vimal
14. Sureshbabu Kaniyappan
15. E.Prem Babu
16. B.Prabhakaran
17. Gopal Subramanian
18. C.Prakash
19. M.Arun
20. R.Manicka Selvam
21. M.Ramachandran
Page Nos.18/34
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
22. R.Suriyamohan … Respondents
Writ Appeal No.2437 of 2022 filed under Clause 15 of the Letters
Patent, praying to set aside the order dated 16.02.2022 in W.P.No.10945
of 2020.
For Appellants : Mrs.Nalini Chidambaram
Senior Counsel
for Mrs.C.Uma and Mr.N.Umapathi
For Respondents : Dr.S.Suriya
Additional Government Pleader,
for R1
Mr.Anand Gopalan
for M/s.T.S.Gopalan and Co, for R2
No appearance – For R3 to R22
*****
W.A.No.2546 of 2022
1. G.Rajesh
S/o.C.George
2. R.Muththarasu
S/o.R.Ranganathan
3. G.Ramesh
S/o. (Late) S.Ganapathy
4. S.Kangaraj
S/o.P.Selvaraj
5. T.Tamilmaran
S/o.Thiraviam
6. K.Sangeetha
S/o.P.Kathirvel
7. H.Yuvashree
D/o.L.hanumantharajan
Page Nos.19/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
8. C.Rajasekar
S/o.M.Chelladurai
9. V.Veeramani
S/o.S.Varatharajan
10. A.Vincent Vijayakumar
S/o.S.Arokiasamy
11. S.Jahir Hussain
S/o.S.Sherfudeen
12. P.Kanagaraj
S/o.K.Palanisamy
13. G.Sangeeth
D/o.G.Gnanasekaran
14. K.Prakash
S/o.Kaligounder ... Appellants
vs.
1. Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited
Represented by Chairman
No.144, Anna Salai,
Chennai-600 002.
2. The Chief Engineer / Personnel
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited
No.144, Anna Salai,
Chennai-600 002.
3. The State of Tamil Nadu
Rep. By Secretary to Government
Department of Personnel and Public Administration
Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009.
Page Nos.20/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
4. A.Kaliyamoorthi
5. S.Gowri
6. T.Mahadevan
7. A.Vaitheeswari
8. T.Rajasekar
9. M.Kamalakannan
10. S.Dharamaraj
11. G.Sivakala
12. N.Dhasarathan
13. S.Balamurugan Shanmugam
14. S.Narayanan
15. I.Gopalakrishnan
16. P.Arul Pandiyan
17. R.Gowthami
18. S.Maheswari
19. N.Dhakshna Moorthy
20. P.Muthaiya
21. M.Maheshwari
22. P.Anandaraj
Page Nos.21/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
23. Santhana Karuppasamy Govindaraj
24. K.Sathish Kumar
25. S.Ponraj
26. R.Ramdass
27. T.Saravanan
28. L.Arivazhagan
29. Nagendiran B
30. P.Kathiresan
31. Deenath I
32. K.Nagaraj
33. C.Avudaiselvan
34. S.Ravindran
35. T.Deebanraj
36. K.Suba Suresh
37. P.Mayaperumal Perumal
38. A.Karthy
39. R.Sethuraman
40. R.Thirunavukkarasu
41. A.Mahesh
42. R.Mohanraj
Page Nos.22/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
43. G.Ranjithkumar
44. G.Selvakumar
45. S.Sivaprakash
46. T.Gowthaman
47. V.Selvasundaram
48. S.Dhanesh Kumar … Respondents
(R4 to R48 were impleaded vide order dated 17.12.2020 made in
W.M.P.No.20957 of 2020)
Writ Appeal No.2546 of 2022 filed under Clause 15 of the Letters
Patent, praying to set aside the order dated 16.02.2022 in W.P.No.15472
of 2020.
For Appellants : Mrs.Nalini Chidambaram
Senior Counsel
for Mrs.C.Uma and Mr.N.Umapathi
For Respondents : Mr.Anand Gopalan
for M/s.T.S.Gopalan and Co,
for R1 and R2
Mr.U.M.Ravichandran
Special Government Pleader, for R3
No appearance – For R4 to R48
*****
W.P.No.5906 of 2021
1. K.Prakash
S/o.Kaligounder
Page Nos.23/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
2., R.Mutharasu
S/o.R.Ranganathan
3. S.Kanagaraj
S/o.P.Selvaraj
4. H.Yuvashree
D/o.L.Hanumantharajan
5. C.Rajasekar
S/o.M.Chelladurai
6. V.Veeramani
S/o.S.Varatharajan ... Petitioners
vs.
1. The State of Tamil Nadu
Represented by its Secretary to Government
Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department
Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.
2. Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution
Corporation Limited
Represented by Chief Engineer / Personnel
No.144, Anna Salai,
Chennai-600 002. … Respondents
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India
seeking a Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the 2nd respondent from reserving
any posts of Field Assistant (Trainee) in the 2nd respondent for inter-caste
marriage candidates on priority basis under clause 11(7) of the Notification
No.5/2020 dated 19.03.2020 and consequently, direct the 2 nd respondent
to select candidates for the post of Field Assistant (Trainee) under
Notification No.5/2020 strictly following the vertical reservation under Act
Page Nos.24/34
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W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
45 of 1994 read with Section 27 of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants
(Conditions of Service) Act, 2016 and the horizontal reservation only for
30% of Women candidates coming under Section 26 of the Tamil Nadu
Government Servants (Conditions and Service) Act, 2016 and 4% for
persons with disability under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act,
2016 and 20% reservation for persons who studied in Tamil Medium under
Act 40 of 2010.
For Petitioners : Mrs.Nalini Chidambaram
Senior Counsel
for Mrs.C.Uma and Mr.N.Umapathi
For Respondents : Mr.U.M.Ravichandran
Special Government Pleader, for R1
Mr.Anand Gopalan
for M/s.T.S.Gopalan and Co, for R2
*****
JUDGMENT
[Made by S. M. SUBRAMANIAM, J.,] Under assail is the common writ order dated 16.02.2022 passed in a batch of writ petitions. These Intra-Court appeals have been instituted by the "Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited"
[hereinafter "TANGEDCO" for the sake of brevity], the respondent in writ petitions as well as by writ petitioners, raising different grounds for setting aside the common writ order under challenge.Page Nos.25/34
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023
2. The facts, in brief, are that a recruitment notification No.01/2016 dated 28.02.2016 was issued by the TANGEDCO for selection and appointment to the posts of Technical Assistant / Electrical, Technical Assistant / Mechanical, Assistant Draughtsman and Field Assistant (Trainee). Pursuant to the recruitment notification, the process of selection commenced and concluded for the post of Field Assistant on 29.01.2018 and for the post of Technical Assistant on 01.04.2019. Admittedly, the writ petitions have been instituted on 31.07.2020 and 15.10.2020, after completion of the selection process in all respects.
3. Mrs.Nalini Chidambaram, learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the candidates, who participated in the selection process, would mainly contend that inter-caste marriage quota has not been contemplated either under the Rules or under the recruitment notification and that being so, the TANGEDCO had provided an inter-caste marriage quota to few candidates, which caused prejudice to the interests of other candidates, including the writ petitioners. That apart, the writ petitioners came to know about the inter-caste marriage quota provided by the TANGEDCO only after completion of the selection process, since under the recruitment notification, no such quota had been contemplated. Thus, the writ Page Nos.26/34 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023 petitioners had no occasion to challenge the recruitment notification at the first instance and therefore, the writ Court ought to have considered all the grounds raised by the petitioners, which was not done, resulting in the filing of the present intra-court appeals.
4. The learned Senior Counsel would urge this Court by stating that the inter-caste marriage quota has not been contemplated under the recruitment rules. While so, providing any quota for inter-caste marriage caused infringement of the rights of the candidates, who participated in the open competitive process. Thus, the quota for inter-caste marriage provided is unconstitutional and violative of the recruitment rules. Thus, the selection ought to have been declared unconstitutional and the process ought to be conducted afresh.
5. The learned Standing Counsel for the TANGEDCO, would oppose by stating that the writ petitions were filed after completion of the selection process and thus, the same are not maintainable. There is no separate quota / reservation provided for inter-caste marriage candidates. Priority is given following the horizontal system of reservation and therefore, there is no quota earmarked for inter-caste marriage candidates. Thus, the Page Nos.27/34 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023 grounds raised based on certain perceptions are incorrect and the writ Court though held that the writ petitions are not maintainable, but issued directions which resulted in revising the selection process and therefore, the TANGEDCO also preferred intra-Court appeals.
6. As regards the brief facts about the dispute concerning inter-caste marriage priority quota, the Government issued G.O.Ms.No.1064, Public Services Department dated 16.03.1956 providing priority to inter-caste marriage persons. The system of providing such priority quota in the recruitment was followed till the year 2022 and thereafter, the entire recruitment process has been handed over to the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, wherein no such priority has been provided to inter- caste marriage persons. From the year 2022 onwards, even the priority is not available to inter-caste marriage persons and such priority has been dispensed with. Till such time, providing priority in the recruitment had been followed based on the Government Orders, but there was no reservation provided for inter-caste marriage persons. The priority is given following the horizontal system of reservation, which cannot be construed as a separate quota for inter-caste marriage persons and thus, the selection process was conducted in accordance with the recruitment Page Nos.28/34 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023 rules as well as the Government Orders providing priority quota not only to inter-caste marriage candidates, but also to the other priority candidates falling under various categories.
7. The recruitment notification would show that the priority quota has been provided to Disabled Ex-serviceman, Dependent of Ex-serviceman killed / Disabled in action, Destitute Widow, Ex-serviceman / dependents of serving personnel of Ex-serviceman, Intercaste Marriage, Repatriate (Country), Member of the family whose lands acquired by the Government, Dependents of Freedom Fighters and Retrenched.
8. In the recruitment notification, clause 5(x) stipulates that as per G.O.No.142, Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department dated 14.10.2009, selection will be made as per 1:4 ratio in regard to priority and non-priority candidates. Therefore, priority quota has been allotted generally to all candidates falling under priority category and there is no separate reservation for inter-caste marriage persons.
9. This is amplified through the selection list extracted in the writ order and perusal of the said selection list would show that there is no Page Nos.29/34 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023 separate quota / reservation has been provided for inter-caste marriage persons, but priority has been granted to the extent as stated in the notification and with reference to the Government Order. However, even the said priority quota for inter-caste marriage persons has been stopped from the year 2022 onwards and currently, the recruitment process has been undertaken by the TNPSC for recruitment to the TANGEDCO.
10. The writ petitioners are unable to establish before this Court that reservation has been exclusively provided to inter-caste marriage persons nor that selection has been made based on any such reservation. But priority has been given along with all other priority candidates as per the recruitment notification, which cannot be construed as an exclusive reservation assigned to inter-caste marriage persons. Thus, the very basis of the writ petitions, namely that reservation was provided for inter- caste marriage persons, has not been established nor this Court is able to identify from the selection list any such exclusive reservation. In the absence of any such specific ground raised in the recruitment process, the High Court may not be in a position to undo the selection process which had already been concluded in April 2019.
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11. Pertinently, the writ petitions were filed after completion of the selection process. The reason stated is that there was no reservation provided in the recruitment notification and thus, the writ petitioners were unaware of the same. However, this Court finds that no reservation has been provided for inter-caste marriage persons either in the recruitment notification nor any such reservation is identifiable in the selection process.
12. Perusal of the common impugned order would show that in paragraph No.44, learned single Judge has made an observation that the writ petitioners have not challenged the notification No.1/2016 dated 28.02.2016 and therefore, the writ petitions are not maintainable. However, the writ Court was also not able to identify any candidate who was selected exclusively by providing reservation under the inter-caste marriage quota. While so, directions have been issued in paragraph Nos.84 and 85 which would unsettle the recruitment process already concluded, which is not desirable.
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13. In view of the above facts and circumstances, the common impugned order dated 16.02.2022 is set aside. Accordingly, W.A.Nos.2751 of 2022, 53 of 2023, 54 of 2023, 61 of 2023, 64 of 2023 stand allowed and W.A.Nos. 2399 of 2022, 2437 of 2022 and 2546 of 2022 stand dismissed.
14. In view of the common judgment passed hereinabove, W.P.No.5906 of 2021 deserves no merit consideration and accordingly, the same stands dismissed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
(S.M.S.,J.) (K.S.,J.) 06.04.2026 Index : Yes Neutral Citation : Yes / No Speaking / Non-speaking order mk Page Nos.32/34 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023 To
1. Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited Represented by Chief Engineer / Personnel No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002.
2. The Chief Engineer / Personnel Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002.
3. The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. By Secretary to Government Department of Personnel and Revenue Administration Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
Page Nos.33/34 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023 S. M. SUBRAMANIAM, J., and K. SURENDER, J., mk W.A.Nos.2751, 2399, 2437, 2546 of 2022, 53, 54, 61 and 64 of 2023 and W.P.No.5906 of 2021 06.04.2026 (2/2) Page Nos.34/34 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis