2026:MHC:355 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 22-01-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN WA No. 1036 of 2021 and CMP No. 6539 of 2021 & CMP No. 5121 of 2023

1. N.Arulmozhi D/o. N. Natarajan, District Registrar, O/o.

Inspector General Of Registration, Chennai 28.

2. D. Mani S/o. V.R. Duraisamy, District Registrar, O/o.

Inspector General Of Registration, Chenni 28.

3. N. Balasubramanian S/o. M Narayanasamy, District Registrar (admn) Tindivanam.

4. G. Jayakumar S/o. J.P. Gnanaselvarajan, District Registrar (audit) Chidambaram Dt.

5. Pandiyarajan S/o. Ramalingam, Sub Registrar (district Registrar Cadre) Adyar, Chennai (south)

Chennai

6. Tamil Nadu Pathivuthurai SC/ST Paniyalar Nalasangam, rep by its Deputy President(Rural) R.Elavarasan, S/o K.Raju, No.106, Bogar Salai, Adivaram,Palani, Dindigul District -624 601 (A6 impleaded as per order dt.22.1.2026 by SMSJ & cKJ in CMP.No.20813 of 2024)

..Appellant(s)

Vs

1. State Of Tamilnadu Rep By Secretary To Government, Commercial Taxes And Registration Department, Fort St.Goerge, Chennai 9.

2. The Inspector General Of Registration, Chennai 28.

3. Registration Department SC/ST And M.B.C. Employees General Welfare Sangam Rep By its General Secretary No.18, Luz Church Road, Pattinampakkam, Chennai

28.

4. G.R.Murali Son of .Ramadoss ,President of the Registration Department B.C.Welfare Association, No.59, Ramasamy Street, Mannadi, Chennaii 600 001.

(Impleaded The 4th Respondent Vide Court Order Dated 24.8.2022 Made In Cmp No.12067 Of 2022 In WA.No.1036 Of 2021.

(Puj And Vbsj). ..Respondent(s)

WA No. 1036 of 2021 For Appellant(s): Mr.MA.Gouthaman for A1 to 5 Mr.P.Vijendran for A6 For Respondent(s): Mr.R.Neelagandan Addl.A.G assisted by Mr.Stalin Abhimanyu,AGP for R1 & R2 Mr.K.Premkumar for R3 Mr.R.Singaravelan, Senior Counsel for Mr.s.Mahaveershivaji for R4

Judgment

(Judgment of the Court was delivered by S.M.Subramaniam J.)

The present intra Court Appeal has been instituted to assail the common order dated 23.12.2020 passed by the writ Court in WP.Nos17505 and 17652 of 2020.

2. The issues raised relating to fixation of seniority in the context of appointment by way of transfer of service is no more res integra. Following the judgement of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, the Division Bench of Madurai Bench of Madras High Court delivered a judgment on 12.12.2023 in W.A.No.1522 of 2022 etc. The said appeals relating to revenue Department of Government of Tamilnadu. The present appeal relates to Registration Department in the Government of Tamilnadu. As far as the issue relating to appointment by way of transfer of service is concerned, the legal position and the rules applicable are one and the same. Thus, the issues need not be re-adjudicated, since it has been already decided by the Division Bench of this Court in the judgment cited supra.

3. The facts in brief for limited purpose are that as per the orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 11.09.2018 in Civil Appeal Nos.9334/2018 etc., the Government through its letter Ms.No.17 dated 30.01.2019 has instructed the Inspector General of Registration to revise the panels of Sub Registrar Grade II from the year 1997 to till date by providing rule of reservation to backward to MBC, DNC candidates along with SC/ST candidates as per the existing service rules. The said Government Letter dated 30.01.2019 came to be challenged in a batch of writ petitions and a common order was passed on 23.12.2020 directing that the entire process of implementation of Government letter Ms.No.17 dated 30.01.2019 shall be completed but the actual implementation shall be kept in abeyance till the disposal of W.P.No.2334/2019 wherein, a larger issue regarding inter se rights between the direct recruits and promotees to the post of Sub Registrar Grade II. Para

25(b) of the said judgement reads as under:

“The entire process of implementation of the Government letter in (Ms) No.17, dated 30.01.2019, shall be completed and kep