Timely completion of public service recruitment processes is essential to uphold fairness and integrity, as delays undermine transparency and merit-based selection.

ORDER :

B.PUGALENDHI, J.

WP(MD)No.36746 of 2025 has been filed by one of the candidates to the post of Panchayat Secretary challenging the communication dated 11.12.2025 issued on the official website of the respondents, whereby the interview scheduled to be held on 12.12.2025 for the said post was postponed citing administrative reasons.

2.WP(MD)No.456 of 2026 has been filed by another candidate to the same post seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to proceed with the interview process as per the original notification and to conclude the same within a reasonable time frame.

3.Since both the writ petitions pertain to the same recruitment process for the post of Panchayat Secretary, they were heard together and are disposed of by this common order.

4.According to the petitioners, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department issued a notification dated 10.10.2025 inviting applications from eligible candidates for appointment to the post of Panchayat Secretary, pursuant to which the petitioners submitted their applications. They were thereafter issued call letters to attend the interview scheduled on 12.12.2025. However, on 11.12.2025, the respondents informed through their official website that the interview had been postponed due to administrative reasons. As a result, the selection process initiated under the original notification came to a halt.

5.Learned Counsel for the petitioners submitted that the recruitment process is governed by the Tamil Nadu Village Panchayat Secretaries (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2023, and therefore, the respondents are duty-bound to complete the selection process without any undue or unreasonable delay. On this ground, the present writ petitions have been filed.

6.Per contra, the learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents, by referring to the communication of the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, dated 08.01.2026, submitted that a majority of the District Level and Block Level officers were deployed for election-related duties in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls underway in the State of Tamil Nadu. Consequently, there is administrative difficulty in conducting interviews for the post of Panchayat Secretary. It was further submitted that the officers involved in the recruitment process were also appointed as Assistant Electoral Registration Officers for the upcoming Legislative Assembly Elections. Therefore, the administration is facing constraints in conducting interviews, verifying candidates, and allocating selected candidates to appropriate postings. However, it was clarified that the temporary postponement would not affect the validity of the shortlist already prepared and that all shortlisted candidates would continue to remain eligible to attend the interview.

7.Learned Additional Advocate General further submitted that upon completion of election-related duties and restoration of normal administrative functioning, the interview process would be resumed. According to him, the interviews would be completed within a period of eight weeks from the date of completion of the SIR of electoral rolls and other election-related duties.

8.This Court has considered the rival submissions and perused the materials placed on record.

9.The Secretary of the Village Panchayat is a full-time Government servant drawing a regular time-scale of pay. The Panchayat Secretary is responsible for administrative functions and maintenance of records and is the sole executive staff assisting the Village Panchayat. The Panchayat Secretary serves as the grass-root link for both Rural Development schemes and Panchayat Raj institutions and is responsible for implementing various Central and State-sponsored welfare schemes in villages.

10.Initially, recruitment to the post of Village Panchayat Secretary was governed by the Tamil Nadu Village Panchayat Secretaries (Conditions of Service) Rule