Dismissed¶47

M.Selva Kumar v. Union of India

Madras HC10 Feb 2026WP(MD)/3693/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

W.P.(MD) No.3693 of 2026 (with W.M.P.(MD) Nos.2992 & 2995 of 2026), Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, decided 10.02.2026 by Dr.G.Jayachandran and K.K.Ramakrishnan, JJ. Keywords: De-notified Tribes (DNT); single Caste/Community Certificate without sub-caste and district barriers; 'Dignified Native Tribes' nomenclature; 10% special preferential reservation akin to EWS; DNT/MBC inter-reservation like ST and SC(A); welfare schemes of Union Government committees; writ of mandamus refused on ground of public policy and judicial non-interference; petition dismissed without adverting to merits; liberty to approach Government; Article 226; party-in-person petitioner.

What did the court decide?

No substantive relief granted; petitioner permitted to approach the Government for appropriate relief; connected miscellaneous petitions closed; no costs.

M.Selva Kumar Vs Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No substantive relief granted; petitioner permitted to approach the Government for appropriate relief; connected miscellaneous petitions closed; no costs.

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Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents should be directed by writ of mandamus to issue a single Caste/Community Certificate in the name of 'DNT' only (without sub-caste and district barriers), to issue community certificates to De-notified Tribes as 'Dignified Native Tribes' at national level, to classify DNTs as a separate nomenclature with 10% special preferential reservation akin to EWS and as DNT/MBC inter-reservation like ST and SC(A), and to enforce welfare schemes per the recommendations of Union Government committees. +1 more

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Ratio / Principle

Without adverting to the merits of the petitioner's submissions, the Court held itself not inclined to entertain the writ petition because the matter purely involves public policy, with which the judiciary cannot interfere by issuing a writ of mandamus.

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Key takeaways

The writ petition was dismissed without adjudicating the reliefs sought; the petitioner remains free to approach the Government for appropriate relief; connected miscellaneous petitions were closed and no costs were awarded.ratio¶47

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) - Writ petition under Article 226 by party-in-person seeking mandamus to direct Union and State respondents to issue a single Caste/Community Certificate in the name of 'DNT' only (without sub-caste and district barriers), to designate De-notified Tribes as 'Dignified Native Tribes' nationally, to classify DNTs as a separate nomenclature with 10% special preferential reservation akin to EWS and as DNT/MBC inter-reservation like ST and SC(A), and to enforce welfare schemes per Union Government committee recommendations - Held, without adverting to merits, the matter purely involves public policy and the judiciary cannot interfere by issuing a writ of mandamus - Petition dismissed in limine; liberty to approach the Government; connected miscellaneous petitions closed; no costs.

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W.P.(MD) No.3693 of 2026

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED : 10.02.2026

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE G.JAYACHANDRAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN

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W.P.(MD) No.3693 of 2026 and

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W.M.P.(MD) Nos.2992 & 2995 of 2026

M.Selva Kumar

... Petitioner

-vs-

1.Union of India

rep.by its Principle Secretary of the President of India Rastrapathi Bhavan New Delhi-110 003

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2.Union of India

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rep.by its Principle Secretary of the Prime Minister of India New Parliament Premises New Delhi-110 003

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3.Union of India

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rep.by its Principal Secretary of Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry 637, Sharthri Bhavan New Delhi-110 001

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Page 1 of 7

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

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W.P.(MD) No.3693 of 2026

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4.Union of India

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rep.by its Principle Secretary of Parliament Affairs Ministry Parliament Building New Delhi-110 003

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5.State of Tamil Nadu rep.by its Chief Secretary St.George Fort Chennai-600 009

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6.State of Tamil Nadu rep.by its Principal Secretary of Revenue Administrative and Disaster Management Department St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009

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7.State of Tamil Nadu

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rep.by its Principal Secretary to Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009

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8.State of Tamil Nadu

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rep.by its Principal Secretary of Backward Class Welfare Department St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009

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... Respondents

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PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of mandamus directing all respondents (particularly the respondents 3 , 6 and 8) to take appropriate action to issue the single Caste/Community Certificate in the name of 'DNT' only (without sub caste and district barriers)”

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Page 2 of 7

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

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W.P.(MD) No.3693 of 2026

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within a time limit which is to be fixed by this court and to issue the Community certificate to the Peoples of 'De-notified Tribes' in the name of “Dignified Native Tribes” in national level and further to take appropriate action to classify 'DNTs' as a separate nomenclature with the special preferential reservation in the ratio of 10 percentage as like as EWS in National level and also the same to be classified as 'the special preferential inter-reservation like as ST and SC (A) in the nomenclature of DNT/MBC as like as 'SC(A), BC (Muslim), BC (Christian) had been provided by state Government and to enforce all welfare schemes as per the recommendations of the committees nominated by the Union Government.

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For Petitioner : Mr.M.Selva Kumar Party-in-Person

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For Respondents : Mr.H.Velavadhas for R1 to R4 Mr.P.Thilakkumar Government Pleader for R5 to R8

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O R D E R [Order of the Court was made by DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.]

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This writ of mandamus is filed with the following prayer

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“Writ of mandamus directing all respondents (particularly the respondents 3 ,6 and 8) to take

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Page 3 of 7

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

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W.P.(MD) No.3693 of 2026

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appropriate action to issue the single Caste/Community Certificate in the name of 'DNT' only (without sub caste and district barriers)” within a time limit which is to be fixed by this court and to issue the Community certificate to the Peoples of 'De-notified Tribes' in the name of “Dignified Native Tribes” in national level and further to take appropriate action to classify 'DNTs' as a separate nomenclature with the special preferential reservation in the ratio of 10 percentage as like as EWS in National level and also the same to be classified as 'the special preferential inter-reservation like as ST and SC (A) in the nomenclature of DNT/MBC as like as 'SC(A), BC (Muslim), BC (Christian) had been provided by state Government and to enforce all welfare schemes as per the recommendations of the committees nominated by the Union Government.”

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2. This Court, without adverting to the merits of the submissions made by the petitioner, is not inclined to entertain this writ petition as the matter purely involves the public policy and judiciary cannot interfere with the same and issue a writ of mandamus.

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Page 4 of 7

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

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W.P.(MD) No.3693 of 2026

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3. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. However, it is open

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for the petitioner to approach the Government for appropriate relief. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

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[G.J., J.] [K.K.R.K., J.] 10.02.2026

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NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No

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krk To: 1.The Principle Secretary of the President of India, Union of India, Rastrapathi Bhavan, New Delhi-110 003. 2.The Principle Secretary of the Prime Minister of India, Union of India, New Parliament Premises, New Delhi-110 003.

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3.The Principal Secretary of Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, Union of India, 637, Sharthri Bhavan, New Delhi-110 001.

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_____________ Page 5 of 7_

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

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W.P.(MD) No.3693 of 2026

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4.The Principle Secretary of Parliament Affairs Ministry, Union of India, Parliament Building, New Delhi-110 003.

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5.The Chief Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009.

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6.The Principal Secretary of Revenue Administrative and Disaster Management Department, State of Tamil Nadu, St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009.

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7.The Principal Secretary to Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, State of Tamil Nadu, St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009.

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8.The Principal Secretary of Backward Class Welfare Department, State of Tamil Nadu, St.George Fort, Chennai-600 009.

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_____________ Page 6 of 7_

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

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W.P.(MD) No.3693 of 2026

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DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J. AND K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN, J.

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krk

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W.P.(MD) No.3693 of 2026 and W.M.P.(MD) Nos.2992 & 2995 of 2026

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10.02.2026

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_____________ Page 7 of 7_

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

M.Selva Kumar v. Union of India

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

M.Selva Kumar v. Union of India

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

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