IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 28-11-2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN and WMP Nos.30348, 30349 & 30351 of 2025 V.Dharman Assistant/Rural Welfare Officer Grade - I, Section of Block Panchayat, Morappur Panchayat Union, Dharmapuri District - 635 305.

Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. State of Tamil Nadu Rep by its Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Fort St.George, Chennai.

2.The Director, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Panagal Maligai, Saidapet, Chennai.

3.The District Collector, Dharmapuri District.

4.Y.Yesuraja Zonal Deputy Block Development Officer, (Zone-

4) Nallampalli Panchayat Union, Dharmapuri District.

5.M.Ranganathan Zonal Deputy Block Development Officer, (Zone-

4), Pappirettipatti Panchayat Union, Dharmapuri District.

6.S.Agilandeshwari Rural Welfare Officer Grade -1, Section of Block Panchayat, Nallampalli Panchayat Union, Dharmapuri District.

7.A.Mahalakshmi Rural Welfare Officer Grade -1, Section of Village Panchayat, Pappirettipatti Panchayat Union, Dharmapuri District.

8.S.Mahalakshmi Rural Welfare Officer Grade -1, Section of Village Panchayat, Harur Panchayat Union, Dharmapuri District.

9.K.Vaijayanthi Rural Welfare Officer Grade -1, Section of Block Panchayat, Harur Panchayat Union, Dharmapuri District.

10.K.M.Senthilkumar Rural Welfare Officer Grade -1, Section of Block Panchayat, Eariyur Panchayat Union, Dharmapuri District.

11.M.Kanchana Rural Welfare Officer Grade -1, Section of Block Panchayat, Karimangalam Panchayat Union, Dharmapuri District.

Respondent(s)

Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records of the 2nd respondent herein in Na.Ka.80349/15/B1, dated 15.2.2016 and rejection order of the 3rd respondent in Na.Ka.No.332/2024/K2 dated 27.03.2024 and rejection order of the 2nd respondent in Na.Ka.No.34960 of 2024/C1 dated 19.02.2025 and consequential approved name panel list issued by the 3rd respondent in Na.Ka.No.5065/2025/K2 dated 20.03.2025 and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents 1 to 3 herein to re-fix the petitioner’s seniority as Sl.No.23 below Thiru.S.Senthilkumar and above Sl.No.24 Thiru.Y.Yesuraja in the impugned seniority list and accordingly to promote the petitioner to the post of Deputy Block Development officer on par with his immediate junior when he was promoted to the post of Deputy Block development officer and further promotions and other monetary benefits.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.P.Nethaji For Respondent(s): Mr.R.U.Dinesh Rajkumar AGP for R1 to R3 Mr.S.Sathish, for R4 to R11

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed to call for the records of the 2nd respondent herein in Na.Ka.80349/15/B1, dated 15.2.2016 and rejection order of the 3rd respondent in Na.Ka.No.332/2024/K2, dated 27.03.2024 and rejection order of the 2nd respondent in Na.Ka.No.34960 of 2024/C1, dated 19.02.2025 and consequential approved name panel list issued by the 3rd respondent in Na.Ka.No.5065/2025/K2, dated 20.03.2025 and quash the same and consequently, direct the respondents 1 to 3 herein to re-fix the petitioner’s seniority as Sl.No.23 below Thiru.S.Senthilkumar and above Sl.No.24 Thiru.Y.Yesuraja in the impugned seniority list and accordingly, to promote the petitioner to the post of Deputy Block Development officer on par with his immediate junior when he was promoted to the post of Deputy Block development officer and further promotions and other monetary benefits.

2.Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.

3.Similar writ petitions were allowed by this Court and aggrieved by the same, the first respondent filed a batch of writ appeals in W.A.Nos.686 to 692 of

2020 before this Court. The Hon-ble Division Bench of this Court, by an order dated 14.03.2024, allowed the writ appeals. The relevant portion of the order is extracted hereunder :

6. We had gone through the initial order of the