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J.Ismail v. The State of Tamil Nadu

Madras HC15 Jul 2026WP/27102/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court; WP 27102/2026; Justice P.T. Asha; 15-07-2026; Computer Instructor Grade-I (PG Cadre); TRB Notification No.09/2019 dated 01.03.2019; final selection list 11.01.2020; 814 selected / 764 appointed 04.01.2021; counselling 24.08.2021; joined 04.09.2021; selection seniority vs date of joining; transfer counselling; delayed appointment due to examination-centre litigation; Committee enquiry; Article 226 Writ of Mandamus; direction to 2nd respondent to consider representation within eight weeks; disposed without costs.

What did the court decide?

No direct mandamus issued; the 2nd respondent (Director of School Education) was directed to consider and pass appropriate orders on the petitioners' seniority request on merits and in accordance with law within eight weeks of receipt of the order; petition disposed of without costs.

J.Ismail Vs The State of Tamil Nadu — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioners' service seniority for transfer counselling and other service benefits should be reckoned on the basis of merit in selection (selection list dated 11.01.2020) rather than on their date of joining duty (04.09.2021), given that the appointment delay was not attributable to them.

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Court's answer

The Court directed the 2nd respondent (Director of School Education) to consider and pass appropriate orders on the petitioners' request for seniority consideration, on merits and in accordance with law, within eight weeks of receipt of a copy of the order.

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Ratio / Principle

In the absence of any serious objection from the respondents' counsel, the Court expressly disposed of the matter without going into the merits of the seniority claim, leaving the substantive question to be considered by the 2nd respondent.

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Key takeaways

The writ petition was disposed of with no costs.ratio¶58

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

MADRAS HIGH COURT (P.T. Asha, J.), WP No. 27102 of 2026, decided 15-07-2026 — Twenty petitioners selected as Computer Instructor Grade-I (PG Cadre) pursuant to TRB Notification No.09/2019 dated 01.03.2019, whose names figured in the final selection list published on 11.01.2020, sought a Writ of Mandamus under Article 226 directing that their service seniority for transfer counselling and other academic activities be reckoned on the basis of merit in selection rather than date of joining. Though 814 candidates were selected, only 764 were appointed on 04.01.2021; the petitioners were appointed through counselling on 24.08.2021 and joined on 04.09.2021 after a Committee enquiry, instituted at the Court's direction, found the alleged examination-centre irregularities unsustainable. Noting absence of serious objection from respondents' counsel, the Court, expressly without going into the merits of the case, directed the 2nd respondent (Director of School Education) to consider and pass appropriate orders on the petitioners' request on merits and in accordance with law within eight weeks; writ petition disposed of, no costs.

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WP No. 27102 of 2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 15-07-2026

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CORAM

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THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA

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WP No. 27102 of 2026

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J.Ismail

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S.sivaranjani

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J.Jayameenakshi

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K.Sivaraman

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G.selvi

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P.Asokan

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R.Lakshmi

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D.Thennarasi

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R.Gayathri

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10.J.Umarani

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11.R.tamilarasi

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12.S.Tiyagarajan

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13.V.vijayalakshmi

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14.S.Prabha

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15.S.Karthiga

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16.P.Vasumathi

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17.M.Anandhan

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18.V.sangeetha

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__________ Page1 of 6

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

WP No. 27102 of 2026

19.S.Vinoth Kumar

20.J.Kiruthika

..Petitioner(s)

The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009

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The Director of School Education Perasiriyar Anbazhaan Kalvi Valagam, College Road, Chennai-600 006

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The Joint Director of School Education (Higher Secondary) Directorate of School Education, Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Kalvi Valagam, College Road, Chennai-600 006

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The Chairman Teachers Recruitment Board 3rd and 4th Floors, Puratchi Thalaivar Dr.MGR Centenary Building, Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Kalvi Valaagam, College Road, Chennai-600 006

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..Respondent(s)

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PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to pass orders for consideration of the service seniority of the petitioners based on merit in selection to the post of Computer Instructor Grade-I (PG Cadre) in accordance with the selection list dated 11.01.2020 for the purpose of transfer counselling

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Page2 of 6

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

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WP No. 27102 of 2026

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and other academic activities, without reference to the date of joining the service by the petitioners in the facts and circumstances of the case, in consideration of representation submitted by the petitioners, within a time frame to be fixed by this Honble Court.

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For Petitioner(s): Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan For Respondent(s): Mr.V.Sivalingam, GA for R.1 to R.3 Mr.C.Kathiravan, Standing Counsel for R4.

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ORDER

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This Writ Petition has been filed for the following reliefs:-

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“directing the respondents to pass orders for consideration of the service seniority of the petitioners based on merit in selection to the post of Computer Instructor Grade-I (PG Cadre) in accordance with the selection list dated 11.01.2020 for the purpose of transfer counselling and other academic activities, without reference to the date of joining the service by the petitioners in the facts and circumstances of the case, in consideration of representation submitted by the petitioners, within a time frame to be fixed by this Honble Court”

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The case of the petitioners is that they participated in the recruitment

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process for the post of Computer Instructor Grade-I (PG Cadre) pursuant to TRB Notification No.09/2019 dated 01.03.2019 and were selected based on merit, with their names included in the final selection list published on 11.01.2020. Though 814 candidates were selected, only 764 candidates were initially appointed on 04.01.2021, while the petitioners and other similarly

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

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WP No. 27102 of 2026

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placed candidates were not appointed due to pending litigations relating to alleged irregularities in certain examination centres. Pursuant to the enquiry conducted by the Committee constituted as per the direction of this Court, the allegations were found to be unsustainable. Thereafter, the petitioners were issued appointment orders through counselling held on 24.08.2021, and they subsequently joined duty on 04.09.2021.

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3.The grievance of the petitioners is that the delay in their appointment was not attributable to them and, therefore, their selection seniority ought to be protected for the purpose of transfer counselling and other service benefits. Hence, the present writ petition has been filed seeking the reliefs stated supra.

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Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the records. By consent of the learned counsel on either side, the matter was taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission.

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Considering the relief sought by the petitioner and in the absence of any serious objection from the learned counsel appearing for the respondents, this Court, without going into the merits of the case, directs the 2^nd respondent to consider and pass appropriate orders on the petitioners’ request, on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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

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WP No. 27102 of 2026

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Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

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15-07-2026

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Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No

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SHR

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The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009

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The Director of School Education Perasiriyar Anbazhaan Kalvi Valagam, College Road, Chennai-600 006

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The Joint Director of School Education (Higher Secondary) Directorate of School Education, Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Kalvi Valagam, College Road, Chennai-600 006

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The Chairman Teachers Recruitment Board 3rd and 4th Floors, Puratchi Thalaivar Dr.MGR Centenary Building, Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Kalvi Valaagam, College Road, Chennai-600 006

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__________ Page5 of 6

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

WP No. 27102 of 2026

P.T.ASHA J.

SHR

WP No. 27102 of 2026