IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 26.11.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN

G.Shanthi : Petitioner

Vs.

1.The Government of Tamil Nadu,

Represented by its Secretary,

Revenue Department,

Fort.St.George,

Chennai-600 009.

2.The Commissioner of Revenue

Administration and Disaster Management

Chepauk,Chennai-600 005.

3.The District Collector,

Cuddalore District,

Cuddalore.

4.The District Revenue Officer,

Cuddalore District,

Cuddalore.

5.S.Sasikumar

6.S.Elavarasi

7.A.Abhirami : Respondents

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records pertaining to the impugned orders passed by the third respondent in proceedings

R.C.No.A2/9988/2022 dated 06.05.2023 and Na.Ka.(A3)/10113/2022 dated 27.06.2024 and consequential proceedings in A2/pdl.30/2024 dated 24.02.2025 relates to panels for Deputy Tahsildar, Assistants, Tahsildar panels insofar as Inclusion of the private respondents 5,6, & 7 and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents 1 to 4 to restore the petitioner seniority in Deputy Tahsildar Panel year 2018 for all further promotions with all other service and Monetary/attendant/seniority benefits within a stipulated period.

For Petitioner : Mr.M.Loganthan For Respondents : Mr.V.Jeevagiridharan Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

The writ petition is filed calling for the records pertaining to the impugned orders passed by the third respondent in proceedings R.C.No.A2/9988/2022 dated 06.05.2023 and Na.Ka.(A3)/10113/2022 dated 27.06.2024 and consequential proceedings in A2/pdl.30/2024 dated 24.02.2025 relates to panels for Deputy Tahsildar, Assistants, Tahsildar panels insofar as Inclusion of the private respondents 5,6, & 7 and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents 1 to 4 to restore the petitioner seniority in Deputy Tahsildar Panel year 2018 for all further promotions with all other service and Monetary/attendant/seniority benefits within a stipulated period.

2. Heard, the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials placed before this Court.

3. A similar issue has already been dealt with by this Court in W.P.No.19409 of 2022 etc. batch. This Court, by an order dated 27.03.2024, held as follows:

“12. All the petitioners and the private respondents were initially appointed to the post of Assistant through combined subordinate service examination conducted by the TNPSC. Thereafter, they were promoted to the post of Deputy Tahsildar. Subsequently they were promoted to the post of Tahsildar except some of the petitioners. Initially, the District Collector, Krishnagiri District, published panel to the post of Deputy Tahsildar as well as the Tahsildar and the same were in violation of judgment of the Hon-ble Supreme Court of India. Therefore, the Commissioner of Revenue Administration published the revised seniority list of the candidates who recruited for the post of Revenue Assistant for the recruitment year 2008~2011 and 2013~2014 enabling the district administration to issue promotion based on the rank list/merit seniority assigned by the TNPSC, instead of roster seniority. 13. Further as per the order passed by the Hon-

ble Supreme Court of India and this Court, the District Collector, Krishnagiri, had published redrawn panel to the post of Deputy Tahsildar for the year 2004~2021 on 16.05.2022. Further the District Collector, Krishnagiri, had issued panel to the post of Tahsildar for the year 2022 and placed one respondent namely N.Vetrivel as Sl.No.3 and placed the petitioners below to him, though they were placed above him as per the revised merit seniority list.

14. Therefore, the Commissioner of Revenue Administration issued circular dated 29.05.2023, directing all the District Collector to ensure strict adherence of special rule 38(b)(ii) r/w annexure~IX of Tamil Nadu Ministerial Services Rules and Rule 7(a) read with annexure~IX of the Tamil Nadu Revenue Services Rules and a