IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 09-02-2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and WMP No. 3830 of 2026

1. S.Sandhya

2. R. Arulselvi

3. A. Ponnalagu 4. R. Aishwarya

5. B. Manikandan

6. R. Charulatha

7. T. Viknesh

8. P. Indumathi

9. A. Archana 10. C. Kiruba

11. S. Ashok Aravind

12. K. Sasikala

13. S. Kokilavani

14. K. Nandhini

15. B. Swathipriya 16. M. Manonmani

17. M. Priya

18. G.D. Keerthana 19. R.Suryakarthick

20. R. Agalya

21. N. Alagurathinam

22. M. Deepa

23. S. Safrin Parveen

24. S. Pavithra 25. K. Swetha 26. K. Kavitha

27. M. Paramasivan Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. The State of Tamilnadu rep. by its Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009.

2.. The Commissioner Department Of Indian Medicine And Homoeopathy, Anna Government Hospital Campus, Arumbakkam, Chennai 106.

3.The Medical Recruitment Services Board Rep. By Its Secretary, EMS Building, 7th Floor, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 006.

Respondent(s)

PRAYER; This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to forthwith appoint the petitioners as Pharmacist in their respective specialization under the relevant Notification in any of the existing or future vacancies as per merit and to extend all consequential service benefits by giving effect to the order of this Honble Court made in W.P.No.13004/2018 dated 26.06.2024.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.L. Chandrakumar For Respondent: Mr.T.K.Tippusulthan, GA RR1 & 2 Mr.S.J.Mohammed Sathick R3

ORDER

This petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondent to appoint the petitioners as Pharmacist in their respective specialization under the relevant Notification in any of the existing or future vacancies as per merit and to extend all consequential service benefits by giving effect to the order of this Honble Court made in W.P.No.13004/2018 dated 26.06.2024.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that the petitioners are all Diploma Holders in Pharmacy obtained in various field of specialization such as Siddha, Homeopathy, Ayurvedha and Unanni Medicines, On 28.11.2023, the respondent has published notification calling for filling up of 26 vacancies earmarking to various categories and the said 26 vacancies were classified as 4 backlog vacancies and 22 regular vacancies. Pursuant to the above said notification, the selection process stood completed and all the petitioners were called for certificate verification held during February 2024 and no posting orders were issued. Meanwhile, WP.No.1875 of 2024 was filed challenging the above said notification and also two other notification in Nos.12 & 13 dated 28.11.2023 and a consequential direction to appoint the petitioners therein in the respective discipline/field on the basis of employment exchange seniority was sought for and the same was dismissed resulting in the claim of the petitioners. The order in writ petition stood confirmed in WA.No.1295 of 2024. In the meantime, during 2018, when similar notifications No.1,2,3,4 dated 13.02.2018 for the post of Pharmacist where challenged in WP.No.13004 of 2018 wherein the petitioners therein sought for quashing of G.O.Ms.No.301 Health and Family Welfare (IM-1) Department dated 30.08.2017 along with these notifications with a consequential direction to appoint the petitioners therein purely on merits basis. On 26.06.2024, the said writ petition was allowed on the premises that in view of the selection process having already commenced and completed and the amendment to the Rules made in GO.Ms.No.301 Health and Family Welfare (IM2-1) Department dated 30.08.2017 cannot have the force of applicability. Therefore, as per the dictum of law and that of the orders referred supra, the respondent department were to process the selection and issue appointment orders to all those selected candidates and to whom the certificate verification stood completed, which includes the petitioners herein who are made to wair for the same till date. Hen