Madras High Court
WP/21028/2023 of S.GNANAVEL Vs THE DIRECTOR on 3 November 2026
WP No. 21028 of 2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 03-11-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN
WP No. 21028 of 2023
CNR:{HCMA011234812023}
AND
WMP NO. 20399 OF 2023
S.Gnanavel
S/o.S.Sundaram Sama, 20/15, Kayithe Millah Street, Mettupalaiyam, Uthayendram (TP)
Jaffarabad, Vellore-635 754.
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The Director
Medical And Rural Health Services, Dms
Compound, Chennai-6.
2. The Joint Director
Medical And Rural Health Services, Dms
Compound, Chennai-6.
3. Marimuthu, Joint Director,
Medical And Rural Health Services, Dms
Compound, Chennai-6.
4. The District Collector,
Tirupattur District.
5. S.Tamilarasi
W/o.A.Arunprasad, No.3, Kalainjar Street, Oothankarai Post And Taluk, Krishnagiri District-635 207
6. Sivasankari
W/o.K.Senthilkumar, No.2/9, Mariamman
Koil Street, Sundarampalli Village And Post, Tirupattur-635 651.
7. T.Sonia
W/o.Late.R.Tirupati, 3/94, Melpudur Village, Mandalanayanagunda Post, Via Kanthili,
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WP No. 21028 of 2023
Tirupattur-635 901.
8. N.Sumathi,
W/o.Late.Sakthivel, 4/96-d, Nariyur Village, Thokkiyam Post, Via-kanthili, Tirupattur-635
901.
..Respondent(s)
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying issuance of Writ of Declaration to declare the entire selection for the post of Dhobi (Vannan) pursuant to the Notification dated 15.05.2023 and the selection of the respondents 5 to 8 there to as null and void and to consequently direct the respondents 1, 2 and 4 to forthwith conduct fresh selection for the post of Dhobi in a fair manner and with transparency as per Rules For Petitioner(s):
Mr.L.Chandrakumar
For Respondent(s):
Mr.K.K.Ram Siddhartha, AGP For R1 R2 & R4.
M/s. S.Saravana Kumar, For R3.
M/s. M.P. John Peter,for R5 To R8.
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ORDER
The present writ petition has been filed seeking issuance of a Writ of Declaration, declaring the entire selection process for the post of Dhobi (Vannan), pursuant to the Notification dated 15.05.2023, and the consequential selection of respondents 5 to 8 as null and void.
2. It is the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner that no interview was conducted and that respondents 5 to 8 were appointed on account
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of pecuniary considerations. The specific submission of the learned counsel is that respondents 5 to 8 had not participated in the interview and that no interview call letters were issued to them. Therefore, according to the petitioner, the very selection process is vitiated by mala fides, warranting interference by this Court.
3. However, the aforesaid contention is totally objected by the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for respondents 1, 2 and 4. It is submitted that interview call letters were sent not only to the petitioner but also to respondents 5 to 8 and that all of them had participated in the interview. It is further submitted that the appointments were made strictly on the basis of merit and communal roster. Hence, the learned Additional Government Pleader seeks dismissal of the writ petition.
4. This Court has given its anxious consideration to the submissions made on either side and perused the materials available on record.
5. The learned Additional Government Pleader has relied upon the interview letter dated 02.06.2023, wherein the names of the petitioner as well as respondents 5 to 8 are found. Further, the signatures of the petitioner and
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respondents 5 to 8 are also found therein, evidencing their participation in the interview. In this regard, it is relevant to refer to the stand taken by the respondents in paragraph No.7 of their counter affidavit, which reads as follows: "7. It is submitted that the Interview Committee constituted with the following Officials and their details are as follows:
1. Joint Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, Thirupattur, Thirupattur District.
2. Deputy Director of Medical Services and Family Welfare, District Family Welfare Bureau, Vellore-01.
3. Deputy Director of Medical Services(TB), Vellore-01. Interview was conducted on 14.06.2023 and 34 candidates have attended the interview and necessary acknowledgement with signature and contact numbers have also been obtained from the candidates on the day of interview. The Petitioner submitted false information in the Writ Petition stating that on the day of interview none of the persons who were asked to appear for selection through call letter were called upon, instead the private Respondents 5,6,7 and 8 alone were called upon. This statement was very much false and totally wrong information put forth to the Hon'ble High Court. There is no specific condition to select the candidates belong to the Vannan Community as stated by the Petitioner in the Writ Petition.."
6. A perusal of the aforesaid statement makes it clear that the respondent authorities had conducted the interview and that respondents 5 to 8 were selected and appointed based on their performance in the interview and the
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communal roster.
7. Therefore, though the petitioner has raised a specific allegation that the appointments were made on account of pecuniary bias, the materials placed before this Court by the respondent authorities, particularly the interview letter dated 02.06.2023 bearing the signatures of the petitioner and respondents 5 to 8, establish that the selection process was conducted by following the prescribed procedure. In view of the above, this Court is unable to find any merit in the contentions raised by the petitioner warranting interference with the selection process.
8. Accordingly, the writ petition stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 03-11-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No JRS
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To
1. The Director Medical And Rural Health Services, Dms Compound, Chennai-6.
2. The Joint Director Medical And Rural Health Services, Dms Compound, Chennai-6.
3. Marimuthu, Joint Director, Medical And Rural Health Services, Dms Compound, Chennai-6.
4. The District Collector, Tirupattur District.
5. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.
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C.KUMARAPPAN J. JRS WP No. 21028 of 2023 AND WMP NO. 20399 OF 2023 03-11-2026
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2026:MHC:4443 WP No. 21028 of 2023
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