The Managing Director Vs N K Mohanathan

The first respondent / writ petitioner was qualified to hold the post of Driver-cum-Conductor as per notification issued by the appellants for recruitment to the said post in the Metropolitan Transport Corporation and other Transport undertakings. He was having the valid Heavy Vehicle Driving Licence issued by the Regional Transport Officer, Tiruttani and he has successfully undergone the Heavy Vehicle Driver Training Course conducted by the Institute of Road Transport (IRT), Taramani and has been given Proficiency Test Certificate.

¶24

With these qualifications, he had been temporarily appointed as a Driver on contract basis at the Metropolitan Transport Corporation with effect from 06.07.2023 and had been working for nearly about one year till June 2024.

¶25

2/7

¶26

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶27

W.A.No.435 of 2026

¶28

When that being so, a notification had been issued inviting eligible persons to attend the interview and physical verification for appointment to the post of Driver-cum-Conductor at the Metropolitan Transport Corporation, i.e., appellant Transport Corporation.

¶29

He had applied for the said post and he secured 28 marks out of 50, based on which, he was called for certificate verification and interview which was conducted on 29.09.2025. The first respondent / writ petitioner had attended the said interview and produced all required original documents.

¶30

Thereafter, while there was a medical fitness checkup, the writ petitioner was declared to be an unfit on the ground that, his left hand ring finger was shorter by 10 to 12 mm, except this, he is otherwise fit physically as there has been no defective vision, defective hearing, night blindness or colour blindness and also bow legs, knock knees or flat foot.

¶31

When that being the position, since his candidature was declared to be

¶32

an unfit one physically, he had approached the writ Court seeking for a writ of mandamus as prayed therein.

¶33

3/7

¶34

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶35

W.A.No.435 of 2026

¶36

The writ Court having considered these factual matrix, has found that, since he is having heavy motor vehicle licence and also had been trained by the Institute of Road Transport (IRT), Taramani and obtained Proficiency Test Certificate and he secured 28 marks out of 50, therefore, he was called for certificate verification and he is otherwise fully qualified to hold the post and physically fit and merely because there is shorter ring finger on the left side hand of the petitioner to an extent of 10 to 12 mm, his candidature ought not to have been rejected.

¶37

Moreover the fact remains that, he had been temporarily appointed as Driver at the very same Transport Corporation and had been working so from 06.07.2023 till June 2024, i.e., for one year period. Therefore, during one year period, he had handled all the heavy vehicles of the Transport Corporation mainly the stage carrier buses for which alone he has been selected and was appointed to deal with those Transport Corporation buses in the regular route.

¶38

When that being the position, absolutely there has been no reason to reject the candidature of the first respondent / writ petitioner, that too on the alleged physical unfitness, therefore, there has been every justification on the part of the writ Court in allowing the said writ petition by giving direction as stated therein in the impugned order.

¶39

4/7

¶40

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶41

W.A.No.435 of 2026

¶42

We are not impressed with the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for the appellants as absolutely no reasons available for the appellant Transport Corporation to reject the candidature of the first respondent / writ petitioner from getting selected to the post of Driver-cumConductor to be appointed at the appellant Transport Corporation.

¶43

In that view of the matter, we do not see any reason to interfere with the order passed by the writ Court through the impugned order, as a result of which, the Writ Appeal fails and hence, it is dismissed. The direction given by the writ Court shall be complied with by the appellant Transport Corporation within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. However, there shall be no order as to costs. Connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

¶44

(R.S.K., J.) ( S.S.A., J.) 24.02.2026

¶45

NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Speaking Order : Yes / No

¶46

vji

¶47

5/7

¶48

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶49

W.A.No.435 of 2026