Madras High Court
WP/39040/2026 of MANIVASAGAM.P Vs THE REGISTRAR GENERAL on 24 September 2026
WP No. 39040 of 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 24-09-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM
AND
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE KRISHNASWAMY GOVINDARAJAN
WP No. 39040 of 2026
CNR:{HCMA012289242026}
AND
and WMP NO. 43834 OF 2026
Manivasagam.P
S/o.Periyannan,
D.No.16/99, M.G.R.Nagar, velampatti post, nagojanahalli, nagarasampatti, krishnagiri Taluk, krishnagiri District - 635204.
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The Registrar General,
High Court of Madras,
High Court Buildings,
Chennai – 600104.
2. The Registrar (Recruitment)
High Court of Madras,
High Court Buildings,
Chennai - 600104.
..Respondents
Prayer : Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India calling for Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the rejection/disqualification of the petitioners candidature bearing Registration No.25720082912 under the category possessing higher educational qualification as reflected in the rejection/disqualification list published by the
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2nd respondent on 06.07.2026 pursuant to notification No.72 of 2025 dated 06.04.2025 for the posts of chobdar, office assistant, residential assistant and room boy and quash the impugned rejection/list insofar as it relates to the petitioner and consequently, direct the 2nd respondent to consider the petitioners candidature in accordance with notification No.72 and 73 of 2025
and permit him to participate in the further stages of the recruitment process, if he is otherwise eligible and selected on merits.
For Petitioner(s):
Mr.U.Baranidharan
For Respondent(s):
Mrs.P.Selvi
Citations and Judicial Treatment
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Order
(Order of the Court was made by S.M.Subramaniam J.) The writ on hand has been instituted challenging the order rejecting the candidature of the petitioner for selection and appointment to the posts of Sweeper, Sanitary worker, Gardener, Waterman and Watchman in the Madras High Court Service pursuant to the recruitment notification dated 06.04.2025.
2. The writ petitioner submitted his application on 06.04.2025 pursuant to the recruitment notification. He participated in the selection process and was successful in the written examination. The petitioner is yet to participate in the skill test and certificate verification. After publication of the results of the written examination, the candidature of the writ petitioner was rejected on the
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ground that he is overqualified. The educational qualification prescribed for Group IV posts, as stated in the recruitment notification reads as under: “A pass in VIII Standard or its equivalent, subject to a maximum qualification of XII Standard or its equivalent, on the date of notification. An undertaking should be given by the candidates that they are not possessing / pursuing any higher qualification other than Higher Secondary or its equivalent as on the date of submission of the application. If the candidate suppresses any other educational qualification beyond the prescribed qualification, action will be taken against the said individual apart from penal action.”
3. The maximum qualification has been fixed as 12th standard. Therefore, overqualified candidates are disqualified for selection. However, to the respondents rejected his candidature which led to the filing of the present writ petition.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has completed Class 10 in the year 2022 and +2 (Higher Secondary) in the year 2024. He submitted his application in the year 2025 and as on the date of the submission of his application, he was not pursuing any higher
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WP No. 39040 of 2026
qualification. Thus, the order of rejection is contrary to the educational qualification prescribed under the Recruitment Notification.
5. A close reading of Clause 4(B) of the Recruitment Notification amply makes it clear that an undertaking should be given by the candidates that they are not possessing / pursuing any higher qualification other than the Higher Secondary or its equivalent as on the date of submission of the application. Therefore, firstly, a candidate should not possess higher qualification over and above the maximum qualification of the Higher Secondary (+2) contemplated under clause 4(B). Secondly, the candidate should not pursue any higher qualification other than the Higher Secondary Course as on the date of submission of the application. These two requirements are to be verified by the selection authorities.
7. In the present case, admittedly, the petitioner is not possessing any higher qualification. He is possessing the qualification of Higher Secondary Course (+2) and therefore, he was not possessing any higher qualification other than the Higher Secondary Grade or its equivalent as on the date of submission of the application. Thus, the case of the writ petitioner was wrongly rejected.
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8. In view of the above facts and circumstances, the Writ Petition stands allowed and the order impugned rejecting the candidature of the petitioner bearing Registration No.25720082912 under the category ‘Possessing Higher Educational Qualification’ issued by the second respondent dated 06.07.2026 pursuant to Notification Nos..72 and 73 of 2025 dated 06.04.2025, is set aside. The petitioner shall be permitted to participate in the further process of selection by following procedures as contemplated under the Recruitment Notification and Services Rules in force.
9. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. There shall be no order as to costs. (S.M.S.,J.) (K.G.R.,J.) 24-09-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No KST
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To
1. The Registrar General, High Court of Madras, High Court Buildings, Chennai – 600104.
2. The Registrar (Recruitment) High Court of Madras, High Court Buildings, Chennai - 600104.
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WP No. 39040 of 2026
S.M.SUBRAMANIAM J. AND KRISHNASWAMY GOVINDARAJAN J. KST WP No. 39040 of 2026 24-09-2026
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