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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 44408
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Mummineni Sudheer Kumar, J
P.Santhiya – Appellant
Versus
District Collector – Respondent
Writ Petition
For the Appellants/Petitioners: A.Arun Prasad
For the Respondents: S.Shaji Bino, R.Ragavan
A candidate's application for public employment is correctly rejected for failing to submit mandated eligibility certificates within the stipulated recruitment timeline, particularly when the selection process has reached finality.
Headnote:The case involves a challenge under Art. 226 of the Constitution of India regarding the rejection of a candidate for the post of Noon Meal Organizer. The petitioner failed to produce a required certificate (PSTM) for Classes I to V during the recruitment process, producing it only after the selection had concluded. Findings show that recruitment finished on January 5, 2026, and the document was produced on January 27, 2026. The core issue is whether a candidate can compel appointment after failing to submit mandatory documentation within the prescribed timeline. The court holds that when the recruitment process is completed and appointment orders are issued, the respondent is under no obligation to consider belated submissions of mandatory certificates. In the final result, the Writ Petition is dismissed.
| Table of Content |
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| 1. filing of a writ petition to challenge rejection of candidature for failure to produce pstm certificate. (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. court refuses to interfere where documents were submitted after the recruitment process concluded. (Para 3 , 4) |
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 28.04.2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR P.Santhiya ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The District Collector, Pudukkottai District, Pudukkottai.
2.The Block Development Officer (Village Panchayat), Manganoor Panchayat, Kantharvakottai Panchayat Union, Pudukkottai District. ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned order in Na.Ka.No.A7/1370/2025 dated 21.01.2026 on the file of the second respondent, quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the respondents to appoint the petitioner as Noon Meal Organizer in Panchayat Union Middle School, Manganoor.
For Petitioner : Mr.A.Arun Prasad For R1 : Mr.S.Shaji Bino Special Government Pleader For R2 : Mr.R.Ragavan Government Advocate ******
O R D E R
This Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned order passed in Na.Ka.No.A7/1370/2025 dated 21.01.2026 on the file of the second respondent, quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the respondents to appoint the petitioner as Noon Meal Organizer in Panchayat Union Middle School, Manganoor.
2. Pursuant to a Notification issued by the first respondent for filling up the post of Noon Meal Organizer/Cook Assistant, the petitioner participated in the recruitment process and intended to claim priority under the PSTM category. However, she failed to produce the PSTM certificate for Classes I to V and but was able to produce the certificate only for Classes VI to XII. Hence, the candidature of the petitioner came to be rejected. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner has approached this Court by filing the present Writ Petition challenging the proceedings bearing Na.Ka.No.A7/1370/2025 dated 21.01.2026.
3. A perusal of the affidavit, especially Paragraph No.2, itself discloses that the petitioner had not produced the PSTM certificate for Classes I to V along with her application and had produced the same only on 27.01.2026. Further, as seen from the written instructions placed before this Court by Mr.S.Shaji Bino, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the first respondent, the recruitment process pursuant to the Notification in question had already been completed on 05.01.2026 and appropriate appointment orders were also issued to the selected candidates.
4. Thus, it is evident that the petitioner produced the PSTM certificate for Classes I to V only on 27.01.2026, namely, much after the recruitment process had concluded. In such circumstances, this Court is of the considered view that there is nothing for this Court to interfere with the impugned proceedings in the admitted factual situation.
5. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is dismissed. No costs.
