IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 02.02.2026 CORAM:

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M. DHANDAPANI W.P. No.2942 of 2026 and WMP.Nos.3286 & 3289 of 2026 P.Sangeeth Kumar … Petitioner Vs

1.The Chairman, Railway Recruitment Cell, Southern Railway, No.5. P.V. Cherian Crecent Salai, (Behind Ethiraj College) Egmore, Chennai-600 008

2.The Director, Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Madras Chennai-600 005 … Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the List of Ineligible Candidates -Level -1, released on online dated 12.01.2026 by the 1st respondent and to quash the same in respect of the petitioner’s observations of grounds of rejection and to further direct the petitioner to participate in the schedule for Trials to be conducted under Recruitment against Sports Quota (Open Advertisement) for the year 2025-26 for the category on Basketball (Men) Levels 1 to 3 on 02.02.2026 (Monday) at Railway Stadium, Perambur and on 03.02.2026 (Tuesday) at Palanisamy Indoor Stadium, ICF subject to the satisfaction of the genuineness of the certificate submitted by the petitioner after conducting proper and necessary enquiry as may deem fit in the interest of justice.

For petitioner : Mr.R.Ganesh Kanna For Respondents : Mr.Chandrasekar

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed praying to quash the proceedings of the List of Ineligible Candidates -Level -1, released on online dated 12.01.2026 by the 1st respondent in respect of the petitioner’s observations of grounds of rejection and consequently to direct the petitioner to participate in the schedule for Trials to be conducted under Recruitment against Sports Quota (Open Advertisement) for the year 2025-26 for the category on Basketball (Men) Levels 1 to 3 on 02.02.2026 (Monday) at Railway Stadium, Perambur and on 03.02.2026 (Tuesday) at Palanisamy Indoor Stadium, ICF subject to the satisfaction of the genuineness of the certificate submitted by the petitioner after conducting proper and necessary enquiry.

2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is a native of Dindugul District. After completing his Senior High School Education in Madurai, he pursued his under-graduation degree in Political Science at Madras Christian College and completed the same in the year 2024, following which he enrolled in the Masters’ Program of Public Administration course in the very same institution. Further, the petitioner is an aspiring player of basket ball. Mahatma Gandhi University sent the petitioner and another person namely Thejasri to represent the Indian University Basket Ball Men and Women Team in the FISU World University Game held on 27.07.2025 vide letter dated 21.04.2025. The petitioner was successful in participation of the World University Games held at Germany from 16.07.2025 to 27.07.2025 and thereafter the petitioner obtained a certificate from FISU World University Game 2025 as athlete and thereafter the petitioner came to know that the respondents issued notification for recruitment of sports persons against sports quota for the post of Center Position under Level 1. However, the petitioner’s candidate was not selected on the ground that the petitioner’s certificate did not disclose the basketball and it disclosed only as athlete.

Challenging the same, the present writ petition has been filed.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the word ‘athlete’ is the broader word and it includes all games including basket ball and thereby the petitioner mentioned as basket ball and however, he gave certificate as athlete as athlete includes basket ball. However, the respondents without considering the broader meaning and taking narrow meaning, rejected the petitioner’s candidate as if the petitioner did not annex the basket ball certificate along with the application, which is not sustainable. Accordi