WP/31524/2026 of M.VINOTHKAMPLIN Vs THE REGISTRAR GENERAL on 24 August 2026

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 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

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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 12thstandard. Therefore, overqualified candidates are disqualified for selection. Since the petitioner pursued the B.E.(Mechanical) course, according to the respondents, his candidature was rejected.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner joined B.E. (Mechanical) course in the year 2014, and completed the course in the year 2018 but did not clear many subjects and thereafter, did not pursue the Engineering course. He submitted his application in the year 2025 and as on the date of the submission of his application, he was not pursuing the Engineering course. Thus, the order of rejection is contrary to the educational qualification prescribed under the Recruitment Notification.

5. The learned Standing Counsel for the respondents would oppose by stating that, even as per the Transfer Certificate submitted by the writ petitioner, he joined the first year B.E.(Mechanical) course on 13.08.2014. He completed the four years course on 10.04.2018. Since he was pursuing the B.E course, his 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

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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 Courts (+2). The only question to be considered is whether he was pursuing the higher qualification as on the date of submission of the application. The transfer certificate issued by the petitioner would show that he was admitted to the first year B.E (Mechanical) course on 13.08.2014 and completed the course on 10.04.2018 and thereafter, did not pursue the Engineering course, since he was not successful in many papers. The writ petitioner was not pursuing the higher qualification as on the date of the submission of the application i.e., 06.04.2025. He abandoned the course in the year 2018 after completing the course. Therefore, he 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.

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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.25723051239 in S.No.2321 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 petitions are closed. 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 Judicature at Madras, High Court Buildings, Chennai-600 104.

2. The Registrar (Recruitment), High Court of Judicature at Madras, High Court Buildings, Chennai-600104.

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S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J. AND KRISHNASWAMY GOVINDARAJAN, J. mk WP No. 31524 of 2026 24-08-2026 (2/6)