K. Dhatchayani v. The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission

Page1 of 8 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 30-06-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE N.SENTHILKUMAR WA No. 711 of 2025 AND WA NO. 3766 OF 2024,WA NO. 9 OF 2025,CMP NO. 29651 OF 2024,CMP NO. 30 OF 2025,CMP NO. 6098 OF 2025 K. Dhatchayani ..Appellant(s) Vs

¶1The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission Rep. by its Member Secretary, Frazer Bridge Road, VOC Nagar, Park Town, Chennai – 600

003.

¶2The Tamilnadu State Council For Higher Education Rep. by its Member Secretary, Lady Willington College Campus, Kamarajar Salai, Triplicane, Chennai – 600 005. Higher Education Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai – 600 009.

¶4University Of Madras Rep. by its registrar, Centenary buildings, Chepauk, Chennai – 600 005.

¶5The Director Of Cooperative Audit, Husbandry Hospital Campus, Nandanam, Chennai – 600 035. ..Respondent(s) WA No. 3766 of 2024 Page2 of 8 S. Roshini ..Appellant(s) Vs

¶1The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission Rep. by its Member Secretary, Frazer Bridge Road, VOC Nagar, Park Town, Chennai – 600 003.

¶2The Tamilnadu State Council For Higher Education Rep. by its Member Secretary, Lady Willington College Campus, Kamarajar Salai, Triplicane, Chennai -600 005. Higher Education Department, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai -600 009.

¶4The University Of Madras Rep. by its Registrar, Centenary Buildings, Chepauk, Chennai -600 005.

¶5The Director Of Cooperative Audit Husbandry Hospital Campus, Nadanam, Chennai – 600 035. ..Respondent(s) WA No. 9 of 2025 A. Sabna ..Appellant(s) Vs

¶1The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission Rep. by its Member Secretary, Frazer Bridge Road, VOC Nagar, Park Town, Chennai – 600

003.

¶2The Tamilnadu State Council For Higher Education Rep. by its Member Secretary, Lady Willington College Campus, Kamarajar Salai, Triplicane, Chennai -600 005. Page3 of 8 Higher Education Department, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai -600 009.

¶4The Registrar Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore -641 043.

¶5The Director Of Cooperative Audit Husbandry Hospital Campus, Nadanam, Chennai -600 035. ..Respondent(s) WA No. 711 of 2025 Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent issuing writ of certiorari to set aside the order passed by this Court in WP No.22572 of 2024 dated 30.08.2024 by allowing the present Writ Appeal. WA No. 3766 of 2024 Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent issuing writ of certiorari to set aside the order passed by this Court in WP No.20723 of 2024 dated 30.08.2024 by allowing the present writ appeal. WA No. 9 of 2025 Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent issuing writ of certiorari to set aside the order passed by this Honourable Court in WP.No.21577 of 2024 dated 30-08-2024 by allowing the present WA In all Writ Appeals For Appellant(s): Ms.L.Meenakshi for Mr.M.Dinesh For Respondent(s): Mr.K.Karthik Jagannath, Standing Counsel for TNPSC for R1, Dr.R.Gouri, Government Counsel for R2, 3 & 5, Mr.R.Thirunavukarasu for R4 Page4 of 8 Common Judgment (Judgment of the Court was delivered by S.M.Subramaniam J.) The present intra-court appeals have been instituted challenging the writ orders dated 30.08.2024 passed in W.P.Nos.22572, 20723 and 21577 of 2024.

¶2A recruitment notification was issued by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) for direct recruitment to the post of Junior Co-operative Auditor in Co-operative Department. The writ petitioners/appellants participated in the process of selection. Appellants are successful and their names are included in the selection list. During certificate verification, authorities found that appellants passed B.Com., degree in Accounting and Finance offered by Women's Christian College (Autonomous) affiliated to University of Madras. Authorities had not considered the case of the appellants for appointment on the ground that B.Com., degree acquired by the appellants is not equivalent to B.Com., degree for the purpose of employment in public services, since the Government has not accepted both the degrees as equivalent.

¶3It is brought to the notice of this Court that Equivalence Committee has recommended for grant of equivalence and the Government accepted the same and issued G.O.Ms.No.178, Higher Education (K1) Department, dated Page5 of 8

07.10.2024. Government issued orders stating that B.Com., in Accounting and Finance (2011-2014) offered by Women's Christian College (Autonomous) affiliated to University of Madras is equivalent to B.com., for the purpose of employment in public services.

¶4Learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of TNPSC would submit that all the vacancies for the post of Junior Co-operative Auditor announced in the recruitment of Combined Civil Services Examination-II (Non-interview Posts) (Group-II A Services) (Notification No.03/2022), dated

23.03.2022 were filled. However, after finalisation of selection, the selection of three candidates namely Ms.Roshni (Reg.No.0103050135), Ms.Dhatchayani (Reg. No.0701035074) and Ms.A.Sabna (Reg. No.0205048209) were cancelled. Subsequently, they did not produce the equivalence Government order for the prescribed qualification for the post of Junior Co-operative Auditor.

¶5In the meantime, Government has issued G.O.Ms.No.178, Higher Education (K1) Department, dated 07.10.2024 to the effect that B.Com., in Accounting and Finance awarded by University of Madras and B.com., Professional Accounting awarded by Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women (Deemed University) are equivalent to B.Com., degree. Page6 of 8

¶6Learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of TNPSC would further submit that vacancies that arose due to cancellation of said candidates have not been filled up. Since vacancies are available, there is no impediment for the respondents to appoint the appellants in the post of Junior Co-operative Auditor as per the selection and based on the equivalence order passed by the Government in G.O.Ms.No.178, Higher Education (K1) Department, dated 07.10.2024.

¶7In view of the above development occurred during the pendency of the writ appeals, the writ orders dated 30.08.2024 passed in W.P.Nos.22572, 20723 and 21577 of 2024 are set aside. Respondents are directed to appoint the appellants to the post of Junior Co-operative Auditor within a period of 12 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

¶8With the above directions, the writ appeals are allowed. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions, if any, are close. (S.M.S.,J.) (N.S.,J.) 30-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order GD Page7 of 8 To

¶1The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission Rep. by its Member Secretary, Frazer Bridge Road, VOC Nagar, Park Town, Chennai - 003.

¶2The Tamilnadu State Council For Higher Education Rep. by its Member Secretary, Lady Willington College Campus, Kamarajar Salai, Triplicane, Chennai - 005. Higher Education Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai - 009.

¶4University Of Madras Rep. by its registrar, Centenary buildings, Chepauk, Chennai - 005.

¶5The Director Of Cooperative Audit, Husbandry Hospital Campus, Nandanam, Chennai – 035.

¶6The Registrar Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore -

¶043Page8 of 8 S.M.SUBRAMANIAM J. AND N.SENTHILKUMAR J. GD WA No. 711 of 2025 AND WA NO. 3766 OF 2024,WA NO. 9 OF 2025,CMP NO. 29651 OF 2024,CMP NO. 30 OF 2025,CMP NO. 6098 OF 2025 30-06-2026