WP/42162/2026 of P.GEETHA Vs STATE LEVEL SCRUTINY COMMITTEE on 26 October 2026

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed for the following reliefs;- “calling for the records in the order bearing Notice No.10585/CV6(1)/2018 dated 25.9.2026 issued by respondent No.1, committee and quashing the same.”

2. The petitioner would submit that he was issued a community certificate dated 04.06.1979 by the Tahsildar, Saidapet, certifying that he belongs to the Konda Reddis community, which is recognised as a Scheduled Tribe. Based on the said community certificate, the petitioner was appointed as Clerk Grade II in the office of the Chief Engineer, AIR/TV (South Zone), Greams Road, Chennai – 600 006. The petitioner joined service on 22.01.1986 and, after rendering 38 years of service, retired from service as Administrative Officer, Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai, on 30.04.2024.

3. The petitioner would further submit that, immediately upon his retirement, all his retirement benefits were disbursed to him and he has been receiving pension. During the entire period of his service, the respondents never summoned him for any inquiry or initiated any proceedings questioning the genuineness of his community certificate or his community status.

4. The petitioner would submit that, after his retirement, he received a

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communication dated 10.07.2025 from the second respondent directing him to appear for an inquiry concerning his community status on 17.07.2025. Aggrieved by the said communication, the petitioner approached this Court by filing W.P. No. 27264 of 2025, seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus forbearing the respondents from conducting any further inquiry into his community status. This Court, by order dated 29.07.2025 allowed the writ petition restraining the respondents from conducting any further inquiry into his community status.

6. The petitioner would submit that, despite the specific order passed by this Court on 29.07.2025, the first respondent Committee has, in gross violation of the said order, passed an order dated 25.09.2026 initiating an inquiry into the petitioner’s community status. Therefore, challenging the same, the petitioner is before this Court.

7. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the records.

8. A perusal of the impugned order would indicate that the same has been passed in sync with the judgement of the Full Bench in R.Gurusamy Vs. Tamil Nadu State Level Scrutiny Committee (WP.Nos.23827 of 2025 etc., batch dated 30.07.2026) wherein Question (a) was answered in Affirmative as follows:-

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“Verification into the genuineness of a community certificate or caste status of an employee remains legally permissible even after their retirement from service. Since an appointment obtained by fraud is ab initio void, retirement does not wash away the foundational illegality, and retiral benefits flowing from a void entry cannot be protected.”

9. In the instant case, though the Division Bench in its order dated 29.07.2025 in WP.No.27264 of 2025 filed by the petitioner herein had passed the following orders:- “17. In the result, the Writ Petition is disposed of, forbearing the respondents from further inquiring into the community status of the petitioner, in view of her retirement on 30.04.2024. The petitioner shall surrender her community certificate (if not already surrendered) to the concerned Officials on due acknowledgment. The affidavit filed by the petitioner in support of this petition dated 14.07.2025 that she will not use her ST Community certificate dated 04.06.1979 issued by the Tahsildar, Saidapet to claim any benefit either to her or her children in future is hereby recorded. In case, any application for issuance of community certificate is made by the son/s or daughter/s of the petitioner in future for the purpose of education, employment, etc., an independent enquiry can be conducted by following due process of law and a decision shall be taken in respect of issuance of community certificate within two months from the date of receipt of application, if any made, bearing in mind

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the judgment of the Supreme Court / guidelines and the Government Order issued by the State Government dated 15.10.2012 (referred to supra). No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.” However, the Review Application No.177 of 2026 has been filed seeking to Review the order passed in WP.No.27264 of 2025.

10. The Review Application was disposed of quoting the judgment of the Full Bench cited supra, and the impugned order that has now been issued to the petitioner is in line with the above order of the Full Bench. Therefore, I see no reason to interfere with the same and, consequently, the writ petition is dismissed. The petitioner shall participate in the inquiry. No costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. 26-10-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No SHR To

1. State Level Scrutiny Committee Rep by the chairman and Additional secretary to Government Social Justice (CV-3)Department Secretariat chennai-600 009

2. The Deputy Superintendent of police Social Welfare and Human Rights and SC/ST vigilance cell MKN Road Alandur chennai-600 016

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P.T.ASHA J. SHR WP No. 42162 of 2026 AND WMP NO. 47322 OF 2026 26-10-2026