WP/3004/2026 of Sowmiya.D Vs The Government of Tamil Nadu,
W.P .No.3004 of 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Dated : 08.04.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE Ms. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA
W.P.No. 3004 of 2026
&
W.M.P.Nos. 3383, 3388 & 3391 of 2026
Sowmiya. D ...Petitioner
Vs.
l. The Government of Tamil Nadu
Represented by its Secretary to the Government
Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department,
Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009.
2.The Government of Tamil Nadu
Represented by its Principal Secretary to the Government
Human Resources Management (M) Department,
Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009.
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W.P .No.3004 of 2026
3. The Secretary,
Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission,
TNPSC Road, V .O.C.Nagar,
Park Town,
Chennai-600003
4. The Chairman,
Teachers Recruitment Board,
3rd and 4th Floors,
Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Centenary Building,
Perasiriyar Anbalagan Kalvi Valaagam,
College Road,
Chennai 600006. ...Respondents
Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Section 226 of the Constitution of
India for issue of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the
records relating to the impugned rejection of the petitioner's
candidature as ineligible on the ground of “Simultaneous study of PG
and UG degrees” in the ineligible list dated 22.01.2026 issued by the 4 th
respondent, quash the same and consequently direct the 4 th respondent
to treat the petitioner as eligible and consider her candidature for
appointment to the post of Post Graduate Assistant (English) pursuant
to Notification No.02/2025 dated 10.07.2025.
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W.P .No.3004 of 2026
For Petitioner : Mr. E.Balamurugan
For Respondents : Mr. R.U.Dinesh Raj Kumar
1 & 2 Additional Government Pleader
For Respondent 3: Mr. B.Vijay
For Respondent 4: Mr. C.Kathiravan
O R D E R
This writ petition is filed for the following relief:
“To call for the records relating to the impugned
rejection of the petitioner's candidature as ineligible on the
ground of “Simultaneous study of PG and UG degrees” in
the ineligible list dated 22.01.2026 issued by the 4th
respondent, quash the same and consequently direct the 4 th
respondent to treat the petitioner as eligible and consider
her candidature for appointment to the post of Post
Graduate Assistant (English) pursuant to Notification
No.02/2025 dated 10.07.2025”
2. The brief facts are as follows.
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W.P .No.3004 of 2026
3. The petitioner had completed her integrated BA. – B.Ed.
(English) course at Pope John Paul II College of Education, affiliated to
Pondicherry University, during the academic year 2018 – 2022.
Thereafter, she had joined her MA. English on 20.10.2022. This
clearly indicates that the petitioner had not simultaneously obtained UG
and PG degrees.
4. The petitioner would submit that the 4 th respondent had issued
a notification No.2 of 2025 dated 10.07.2025, calling for applications
for direct recruitment to the post of Post Graduate Assistant / Physical
Director Grade I / Computer Instructor Grade – I for the year 2025.
The petitioner applied for the post of Post Graduate Assistant (English)
as she posses requisite educational qualification and satisfactory
eligibility criteria.
5. The petitioner would submit that she successfully participated
in the selection process, which included written examination and
certificate verification and she had secured 102 marks. The petitioner
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W.P .No.3004 of 2026
was expecting to be called for an interview, while so, the 4 th respondent
published the ineligible candidates list after certificate verification and
the petitioner name was also found in the rejected list on the ground
that “simultaneous study of PG and UG degrees”.
6. The petitioner would submit that the rejection is absolutely
arbitrary and suffers from non application of mind. The petitioner’s
UG and PG courses had been undergone on two different periods and
not simultaneously. Thus aggrieved, the petitioner is before this Court.
7. Though a counter affidavit has been filed objecting to the
contentions raised by the petitioner in her affidavit, however, it has
been fairly conceded that the petitioner has undergone her UG and PG
courses on two different periods.
8. Heard the learned counsels on the either side and perused the
records.
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W.P .No.3004 of 2026
9. From a perusal of the records it is seen that the petitioner has
undergone her UG in BA. (English) between the period June 2018 to
May 2022. She had admitted into the said course on 16.07.2018 and
had completed the course on 05.09.2022 from Pope John Paul II
College of Education, Reddiarpalayam, affiliated to the Pondicherry
University.
10. Thereafter, the petitioner has undergone PG degree in
Annamalai University, from June 2022 to May 2024. She was admitted
in the Aringnar Anna Government College, affiliated to Annamalai
University on 20.10.2022 and completed her course on 17.04.2024.
Therefore, it is crystal clear that the petitioner has not undergone her
UG and PG courses simultaneously.
11. Therefore, the impugned order is not only arbitrary but also
suffers from non application of mind. Accordingly, the impugned order
dated 22.01.2026 is quashed and the 4 th respondent is directed to treat
the petitioner as eligible and consider her candidature for appointment
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W.P .No.3004 of 2026
to the post of Post Graduate Assistant (English) pursuant to Notification
No.02/2025 dated 10.07.2025.
12. With the above observation and direction, this writ petition is
allowed. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are
closed. No costs.
08.04.2026
kan
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W.P .No.3004 of 2026
To
l. The Government of Tamil Nadu
Represented by its Secretary to the Government
Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department,
Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009.
2.The Government of Tamil Nadu
Represented by its Principal Secretary to the Government
Human Resources Management (M) Department,
Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009.
3. The Secretary,
Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission,
TNPSC Road, V .O.C.Nagar,
Park Town,
Chennai-600003
4. The Chairman,
Teachers Recruitment Board,
3rd and 4th Floors,
Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Centenary Building,
Perasiriyar Anbalagan Kalvi Valaagam,
College Road,
Chennai 600006.
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W.P .No.3004 of 2026
P.T. ASHA, J
kan
W.P.No.3004 of 2026
08.04.2026
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