IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 06.09.2022 CORAM:

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K.KUMARESH BABU W.P.Nos.48903 of 2006 & 11327 of 2008 and M.Ps.No.2 of 2008 and 1 of 2011 W.P.No.48903 of 2006

1.S.Sowrirajulu 2.D.Thangavel 3.V.Murugesan

4.D.Nagasubramanian

5.N.Nallamuthu 6.R.Shanmugam

7.K.Sankara Narayanan 8.R.Kesava Ramanujam

9.P.Krishnasamy

10.P.Selvaraj ...Petitioners Vs.

1.The State of Tamil Nadu, rep. by its Secretary to Government, Commercial Taxes Department, Chennai – 600 009.

2.The Inspector General of Registration, 100, Santhome High Road, Chennai – 600 028.

3.A.Arumuga Nainar, Assistant Inspector-General of Registration (Zonal), Tirunelveli, R/o.No.2-E, V-II, Main Road, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai – 600 028. 4.K.Madalaimuthu Assistant Inspector-General of Registration, Office of the Inspector General of Registration, 100, Santhome High Road, …Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, for issuance of Writ of Certiorari, to call for the records relating to the order of the 1^st respondent herein in G.O.Ms.No.151, Commercial Taxes and Registration Department, dated 24.11.2006 and consequential orders of the 1^st respondent made in G.O.Ms.No.30, Commercial Taxes and Registration Department dated 19.01.2007 and G.O.Ms.No.53, Commercial Taxes and Registration Department dated 17.2.2007 and quash the same. (prayer amended as per order dt.17.8.11 by DHPJ in M.P.No.1/2010 in W.P.No.48903/2006).

For Petitioners : Mr.C.Vigneswaran for Mr.R.Parthiban For Respondents : Mr.C.Selvaraj for R1 & R2 Additional Government Pleader Mr.S.Packiaraj for R3 & R4 W.P.No.11327 of 2008

1.B.K.Gunasekaran 2.R.Rajendra Singh

3.A.Angappan

4.V.Arjunan

5.T.P.Ramachandran 6.A.Maruthachalam

7.K.Balasubramanian

8.M.Ramiahy

9.M.Rajamanickam

10.N.Gopalakrishnan

11.A.Dhanasekaran District Registrar (Audit), Kallakurichi.

12.K.Murugesan, District Registrar, Woraiyur, Tiruchirapalli

13.V.Lucas, District Registar, Palani ...Petitioners Vs.

1.The State of Tamil Nadu, rep. by its Secretary to Government, Commercial Taxes Department, Chennai – 600 009.

2.The Inspector General of Registration, 100, Santhome High Road, Chennai – 600 028.

3.K.Durairajan Assistant Inspector General of Registration, Chennai (Central)

Chennai – 18.

4.Mr.Chennakasavalu, Sub-Registrar (in the cadre of Dist. Registrar), Bharathi Salai, Chennai – 600 014.

5.Mr.K.V.Srinivasan, District Registrar (Audit), Kancheepuram.

6.Mrs.Rathna, Sub-Registrar (in the cadres of Dist. Registrar), Singanallur, Coimbatore.

7.Mrs.Angayarkanni, Personal Assistant (Chits) to I.G.Registration, 100, Santhome High Road, Chennai – 600 028. 8.Mrs.Sudhamalya, District Registrar (Guidelines), 100, Santhome High Road, Chennai – 600 028. …Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, for issuance of Writ of Certiorari, to call for the records relating to the order of the IInd respondent in Proceedings No.57043/A1/2007-3 dated 11.04.2008 and quash the same.

For Petitioners : Mr.C.Vigneswaran for Mr.R.Parthiban For Respondents : Mr.C.Selvaraj for R1 & R2 Additional Government Pleader Mr.R.Muthukkannu for R3 to R8

C O M M O N O R D E R

The common thread in both the writ petitions are that the petitioners were all originally appointed by direct recruitment to the post of Sub-Registrars in the Registration Department, Government of Tamil Nadu. The next stage of promotion is the post of the District Registrar. The post of District Registrar is being filled by way of direct recruitment and recruitment by transfer of Sub-Registrar of the first grade. According to them, they were all temporarily appointed as District Registrars under 10(a)(i)(1) of the General Rules of the Tamil Nadu State and Subordinate Service Rules, 1955. The private respondents in the Writ Petitions were all recruited by direct recruitment to the post of District Registrars. The issue involved in the Writ Petitions is as to the placement of seniority.

2.Heard Mr.C.Vigneswaran, learned counsel for the p