IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 16.12.2025 CORAM THE HON'BLE Mr. JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and W.M.P. No. 53424 of 2025 S.Pachaiyappan …Petitioner Vs.

1. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.

2. The Director of School Education, DPI Campus, College Road, Chennai – 600 006.

3. The Secretary, Teachers Recruitment Board, 4th Floor, EVK Sampath Maligai, DPI Campus, College Road, Chennai – 600 006. ...Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondents to award marks to the Petitioner (25PG0729230074) for Question Nos. 52, 140, 155 and 150 in Question Booklet Series ‘M’; ZX-25, Subject Code: ZZX7 Zoology Subject, based on the proof produced from approved and standard text books (4 Marks in total) and consequently consider the petitioner for selection and appointment to the post of P.G. Assistant (Zoology) under M.B.C/DNC Category, as per Advertisement/Notification No.02/2025 dated 10.07.2025.

For Petitioner : Mr.J.Jayamalan For Respondents : Ms.Mythreye Chandru, Special Government Pleader (for R1&R2)

Mr.R.Neelakandan, Additional Advocate General Assisted by Mr.C.Kathiravan (for R3)

O R D E R

The Writ Petition is filed for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondents to award marks to the Petitioner (25PG0729230074) for Question Nos. 52, 140, 155 and 150 in Question Booklet Series ‘M’; ZX-25, Subject Code: ZZX7 Zoology Subject, based on the proof produced from approved and standard text books (4 Marks in total) and consequently consider the petitioner for selection and appointment to the post of P.G. Assistant (Zoology) under M.B.C/DNC Category, as per Advertisement/Notification No.02/2025 dated 10.07.2025.

2.Heard the learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the first and second respondents and the learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the third respondent.

3.The case of the petitioner is that he belongs to Most Backward Class (MBC) and he has completed M.Sc., (Zoology) and B.Ed. Pursuant to the notification issued by the 3^rd respondent to the post of Post Graduate Assistant in Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary Educational Service for the year 2025, the petitioner has applied for the post of PG Assistant (Zoology) and appeared for written examination conducted on 12.10.2025. The petitioner was not satisfied with the tentative key answers in respect of Question Nos. 52, 140, 155 and 150 and in the notification itself, the 3^rd respondent has stated that any objections with regard to the Tentative answer key shall be raised through Online mode within the prescribed time. Accordingly, the petitioner raised objections with supporting documents through online mode. However, without considering his objections, the 3^rd respondent published the list of candidates called for Certificate Verification, wherein the petitioner’s name was not mentioned. If the petitioner was awarded marks for the above said questions, he would have come within the zone of consideration and non awarding of marks, deprives his right to be considered for appointment to the post of PG Assistant. Thereby, the petitioner has filed this Writ Petition to direct the 3^rd respondent to to award marks to the Petitioner for the above said questions and and consequently consider the petitioner for selection and appointment to the post of P.G. Assistant (Zoology) under M.B.C/DNC Category and consequently consider the petitioner for selection and appointment to the post of P.G. Assistant (Zoology)

under M.B.C/DNC Category.

4.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that it is settled law that if the key answer published by the 3^rd respondent is palpably wrong, this Court could exercise the power of judicial review under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to appoint