Madras High Court
WP/29211/2026 of J.PAVITHRA Vs The Registrar General on 24 August 2026
WP No. 29211 of 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 24-08-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM
AND
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE KRISHNASWAMY GOVINDARAJAN
WP No. 29211 of 2026
J.Pavithra
D/o.Jayatheesan
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The Registrar General,
High Court of Madras
High Court Buildings
Chennai-600 104.
2. The Registrar (Recruitment),
High Court of Madras
High Court Buildings
Chennai-600 104.
..Respondent(s)
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records relating to the rejection / disqualification of the petitioner’s candidature bearing Registration No.25720071001 under the category “Possessing Higher Educational Qualification” pursuant to Notification Nos.72 and 73 of 2025
dated 06.04.2025 for the posts of Chobdar, Office Assistant, Residential Assistant and Room Boy, quash the impugned rejection list insofar as it relates to the petitioner and consequently, direct the 2nd respondent to consider the petitioner’s candidature in accordance with Notification Nos.72
and 73 of 2025 and permit her to participate in the further stages of the recruitment process, if she is otherwise eligible and selected on merits.
For Petitioner(s):
Ms.K.Selva Priya
For Respondent(s):
Mr.M.Fakkir Mohideen
WP No. 29211 of 2026
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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 Chobdar, Office Assistant, Residential Assistant and Room Boy in the Madras High Court Service pursuant to the recruitment notification dated 06.04.2025.
2. The writ petitioner submitted her application on 06.04.2025 pursuant to the recruitment notification. She 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 ground that she 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.”
WP No. 29211 of 2026
3. The maximum qualification has been fixed as 12thstandard. Therefore, overqualified candidates are disqualified for selection. Since the petitioner pursued B.Com course, according to the respondents, her candidature was rejected.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner joined B.Com course in the year 2022, and discontinued the course in the year 2023. She submitted her application in the year 2025 and as on the date of submission of her application, she was not pursuing B.Com course. Thus, the order of rejection is contrary to the educational qualification prescribed under the Recruitment Notification.
5. The learned counsel for the respondents would oppose by stating that, even as per the Transfer Certificate submitted by the writ petitioner, she joined the first year B.Com course on 11.07.2022. She discontinued the course on 21.06.2023. Since she was pursuing B.Com course, her candidature was rejected by invoking clause 4(B) of the Recruitment Notification dated 06.04.2025.
6. 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
WP No. 29211 of 2026
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. She is possessing the qualification of Higher Secondary Courts (+2). The only question to be considered is whether she was pursuing the higher qualification as on the date of submission of the application. The transfer certificate issued by the petitioner would show that she was admitted to the first year B.Com course on 11.07.2022 and discontinued the course on 21.06.2023. The writ petitioner was not pursuing the higher qualification as on the date of the submission of the application i.e., 06.04.2025. She discontinued the course in the year 2023. Therefore, she would not fall under the second limb of the clause 4(B) i.e., pursuing the 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.
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.25720071001 in S.No.462 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
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under the Recruitment Notification and Services Rules in force. There shall be no order as to costs. (S.M.S.,J.) (K.G.R.,J.) 24-08-2026 Index : Yes Neutral Citation : Yes Speaking order mk To
1. The Registrar General, High Court of Madras High Court Buildings Chennai-600 104.
2. The Registrar (Recruitment), High Court of Madras High Court Buildings Chennai-600 104.
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S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J. AND KRISHNASWAMY GOVINDARAJAN, J. mk WP No. 29211 of 2026 24-08-2026 (6/6)