IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 19-02-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI W.P.No. 6226 of 2026 A.Srinivasan ..Petitioner Vs

1. 1.The Secretary to Government, 2. Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Department, 3. Secretariat, 4. Chennai-600 009.

5.

2.The Industrial Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce, 3rd Floor, SIDCO Corporate Office Building, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai-600 032.

..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the first respondent to include the petitioner’s name in the promotion panel for the post of Deputy Director (Technical) and grant him promotion with all consequential service and monetary benefits including seniority, from the date on which his immediate junior was promoted based on his representation dated 02.02.2026 within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Lakshmi Narayanan For Respondents : Mr.P.Balathandayutham Special Government Pleader

O R D E R

The petitioner seeks a direction to the first respondent to include his name in the panel for promotion to the post of Deputy Director (Technical) and grant him promotion with all consequential service and monetary benefits including seniority from the date on which his immediate junior was promoted based on his representation dated 02.02.2026.

2. The case of the petitioner is that he was directly recruited through Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission and joined as Assistant Superintendent in Category-III of Tamil Nadu Industries Service (TNIS). The claim of the petitioner is that promotion to the post of Deputy Director (Technical) in Category-II, shall be made from among eligible officers in Category III, possessing a Degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Automobile/Chemical Engineering and having service for a period of not less than 3 years in Category-III of the TNIS. He further submits that he possesses the equivalent qualification to a Chemical Engineering Degree as per established Government Orders and also has more than three years service in Category-III post of TNIS. Therefore, the petitioner is fully eligible to include his name in the promotion panel to the post of Deputy Director [Technical]. In this regard, the petitioner has submitted a representation to the respondents on 30.07.2025, pursuant to which, the service register and the annual confidential reports were called by the second respondent for preparation of the promotion panel to the said post. However, his name has not been included in the promotion panel subsequently published in G.O.(2D).No.9, dated 30.01.2026 without assigning any reasons. However, his juniors who were appointed much later than him were included in the said panel. Thereafter, the petitioner has sent another representation dated 02.02.2026 requesting his name to be included in the promotion panel. However, since the same has not been evoked any response, the petitioner is before this Court by filing this writ petition.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that it would suffice, if the first respondent is directed to dispose of the representation of the petitioner dated 02.02.2026 on merits and in accordance with law, within a specified period.

4. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents has no objection for such an order being passed by this Court.

5. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.

6. In view of the limited request made by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, this Court, without going into the merits of the case, directs the first respondent to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 02.02.2026 and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

7. With the above direction,