R.Dhinakaran v. The State

J U D G M E N T (By S.M.SUBRAMANIAM,J.,) Under assail is the Writ Order dated 06.10.2020 passed in W.P.No.14164 of 2020. Writ Petitioners are the appellants before this Court. Writ Petition came to be instituted, challenging the panel of the year 20212 for promotion to the post of Assistant and consequently, fix the seniority and give promotion.

¶2Writ Court primarily found that the writ is not entertainable on the ground of laches. The findings of the Writ Court would show the vacancy position between the Direct Recruits and Promotees in 2011-2012 and thereafter, it has been raised as an issue by the writ petitioners before the Writ Court. Certain violations have been pointed out regarding rotation of vacancies. Finally, the seniority list published as on 01.01.2013 was raised as a cause for institution of writ proceedings. Writ Petition came to be instituted in the year 2020 after a lapse of about seven years.

¶3Writ Court found that several vacancies arose in between and numberous employees have been promoted and their seniority position has been settled. In the event of reopening the settled seniority, it will result in opening of Pandora Box and several such other similarly placed employees would also seek revision of their seniority and consequential promotions. Thus, the Writ Court rejected the writ petition on ground of laches. Settled seniority cannot be unsettled after several years. An aggrieved Government employee has to approach the competent authority within the time frame stipulated in the Service Rules and before the Court within a reasonable period of time. Once the seniority position has been settled and several persons have been promoted to the Higher Post, thereafter Courts may not entertain writ petitions for adjudication on merits, which would cause prejudice to numerous employees, who could have been promoted during the interregnum period. Thus, the rejection of the writ petition on the ground of laches cannot be construed as infirm and thus, the order of the Writ Court stands confirmed. Consequently, the Writ Appeal is dismissed. No costs. Connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. (S.M.S,J.,) (C.K,J.,)

02.01.2026 Index: Yes Internet: Yes ar To:

¶1The Principal Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, St.George Fort, Chennai.

¶2The Director, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Panagal Building, Saidapet, Chennai.

¶3The District Collector, Tiruvannamalai.

S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J. AND

C.KUMARAPPAN, J. ar

02.01.2026

2026:MHC:104 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 02.01.2026 C O R A M THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN W.A.No.1662 of 2021 and C.M.P.No.10478 of 2021 1. R.Dhinakaran 2. M.S.Manikandan 3. M.Punithavalli 4. K.Anbalagan 5. G.Jeevanandam 6. R.Ramkumar 7. R.Dhinakaran 8. T.Manikandan 9. A.Munusamy 10. K.Kavitha 11. N.Pradeep Babu 12. C.Pugazhendhi 13. M.Prabhu 14. V.Vijayakumar 15. K.Vijayalakshmi 16. K.Gouse 17. K.Sangavai 18. M.Natarajan 19. N.Jayanthi 20. M.Sundari 21. T.S.Subalakshmi 22. M.Ramesh 23. T.Savarimuthu 24. K.Mahalakshmi 25. K.Hariram 26. D.Sridhar 27. R.Megala 28. Umadevi 29. D.Prabhu ... Appellants -vs- 1. The State, Rep by its Principal Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, St.George Fort, Chennai. 2. The Director, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Panagal Building, Saidapet, Chennai. 3. The District Collector, Tiruvannamalai. 4. C.Lakshmi 5. C.Jeeva 6. K.Chitra 7. S.Kavitha 8. R.Indiragandhi 9. V.Jayanthi 10. K.Mahalakshmi 11. P.Kawsan 12. M.Saravanan 13. G.Parameshwari 14. P.Jayalakshmi 15. N.Sasikala 16. M.Sudha 17. S.Vadivel 18. M.Rani 19. R.Vani 20. T.Nethra 21. R.Vasanthi 22. P.Neelaveni 23. M.Rajeshwari 24. K.Swarnalatha 25. M.Narmatha 26. E.Jeya 27. P.Vasugi 28. C.Geetha 29. S.Sudha 30. B.Rajagandhan 31. M.M.Shanmugam 32. B.Radhakrishnan 33. P.K.Murugan 34. A.Natarajan 35. T.Valarmathi 36. R.Natesan 37. S.Rajendiran 38. A.Sankarasanmugam 39. M.Jothilakshmi 40. E.Manibalan 41. A.Veeraragavan 42. B.Balakrishnan 43. E.Parasuraman 44. T.Annamalai 45. S.Selvi 46. K.Subburayan 47. K. Sivanantham ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent to set aside the order made in W.P.No.14164 of 2020 dated 06.10.2020. For Appellants: Ms.T.Srivadivu For Mr.P.Manojkumar For R1 to R3 Dr.S.Suriya Addl. Govt. Pleader For R4 to 21, 23 to 30, 32 to 35, 38 to 40, 42, 43, 45 & 46 No Appearance For R22, 31, 36, 37, 41 & 44 Not Ready in Notice For R47 Died – Steps Due *****