Madras High Court
WP(MD)/21513/2024 of T.Nagarajan. Vs M/s. Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation on 12 November 2026
WP(MD) Nos. 21513 & 21590 of 2024
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 12-11-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN
WP(MD) Nos. 21513 & 21590 of 2024
CNR:{HCMD010199272023}
and
WMP(MD) Nos.18185, 18186, 18246 and 18247 of 2024
T.Nagarajan
..Petitioner in both petitions
Vs
1. M/s.Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation Through its Managing Director, 12, Thambu Swamy Road, Kilpauk, Chennai 600 010
2. The Senior Regional Manager
M/s. Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, Thanjavur Region, No. 56, Sachidananda Moopanar Road, N S C Bose Nagar, Ramani Nagar, Thanjavur- 613 007
..Respondents in both petitions
PRAYERs: Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Certiorari calling for the records relating to the impugned Selection Lists for the posts of Seasonal Helper dated 17.02.2023 and Seasonal Bill Clerk dated 15.02.2023 issued by the 2nd respondent and quash the same.
WP(MD) Nos. 21513 & 21590 of 2024
In both cases:
For Petitioner(s)
: Mr.B.Rajesh Saravanan
For Respondent(s)
: Mr.G.Mohan Kumar
Standing Counsel
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COMMON ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by The Chief Justice) These writ petitions, styled as a public interest litigation (PIL), have been instituted by the petitioner seeking to quash the impugned selection lists for the posts of Seasonal Helper and Seasonal Bill Clerk published by the second respondent.
2. The primary contention raised by the petitioner is that the selection process conducted by the second respondent suffers from procedural irregularities, thereby vitiating the impugned selection lists.
3. At the very outset, a preliminary objection has been raised on behalf of the respondents regarding the maintainability of these writ petitions as Public Interest Litigation, on the settled proposition of law that a PIL is not maintainable in service matters.
4. We have carefully considered the submissions made on either side and perused the materials placed on record.
WP(MD) Nos. 21513 & 21590 of 2024
5. Before delving into the merits of the allegations levelled against the selection process, this Court is bound to examine the threshold issue of locus standi and the maintainability of a public interest litigation in matters concerning recruitment and service jurisprudence.
6. It is no longer res integra that a public interest litigation cannot be entertained in service matters. Public interest litigation was conceived as a judicial instrument to secure justice for the poor, marginalized, and voiceless sections of society, who, by reason of poverty, disability, or socially and economically disadvantaged positions, are unable to approach the Court for the enforcement of their fundamental or legal rights. It was never intended to be converted into a tool for busybodies, meddlesome interlopers or proxy litigants to agitate service disputes, where aggrieved individuals, if any, are fully capable of seeking redressal on their own.
7. In this context, reference may be made to the landmark decision of the Supreme Court in Dr.Duryodhan Sahu and Others v. Jitendra Kumar Mishra and Others, (1998) 7 SCC 273, wherein a Three-Judge Bench categorically held that a public interest litigation is not maintainable in service matters.
WP(MD) Nos. 21513 & 21590 of 2024
8. In Hari Bansh Lal v. Sahodar Prasad Mahto and Others, (2010) 9 SCC 655, the Supreme Court summarized the legal position and held that except for a Writ of Quo Warranto, public interest litigation is not maintainable in service matters. It was clarified that suitability or eligibility of a candidate for appointment to a post is within the domain of the appointing authority, and a third party cannot challenge a selection list under the garb of public interest.
9. Applying the settled legal principles enunciated in the above authoritative pronouncements to the facts of the present case, it is undisputed that the petitioner is neither an applicant nor a participant in the impugned recruitment process. The petitioner has no personal grievance or direct nexus with the selection to the posts of Seasonal Helper and Seasonal Bill Clerk. If any candidate who participated in the selection process is aggrieved by any alleged irregularity or violation of statutory rules, it is always open to such aggrieved candidate to approach the appropriate forum or this Court in accordance with law. Entertaining a challenge to selection lists at the instance of a third-party busybody would not only run counter to binding precedent, but would also stall
WP(MD) Nos. 21513 & 21590 of 2024 public recruitment and prejudice selected candidates who are not even before this Court.
10. For the foregoing reasons, we are of the considered view that these writ petitions are wholly devoid of locus standi and are not maintainable in law. Accordingly, these writ petitions stand dismissed as not maintainable. However, there shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. (SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, C.J.) (P.VELMURUGAN J.) 12-11-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No ta/sasi
1. The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation 12, Thambu Swamy Road, Kilpauk, Chennai 600 010
2. The Senior Regional Manager Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, Thanjavur Region, No. 56, Sachidananda Moopanar Road, N S C Bose Nagar, Ramani Nagar, Thanjavur- 613 007
WP(MD) Nos. 21513 & 21590 of 2024 SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, C.J. AND P.VELMURUGAN J. ta WP(MD) Nos. 21513 & 21590 of 2024 12-11-2026