Thalapathi Prabakaran v. The Principal Secretary to Government

ORDER This Writ Petition has been filed seeking quashment of the impugned provisional selection list dated 13.01.2026 published by the second respondent and the notification dated 27.10.2025 and consequential direction to the 2nd respondent to arrive the selection list by preparing list of candidates under General turn at the first instance in consideration of meritorious candidate irrespective of community followed by backlog vacancy and communal vacancy under regular list. Page3 of 6

¶2Mr.K.Tippu Sulthan, learned Government Advocate takes notice on behalf of the respondents 1 and 3, and Mr.S.J.Mohamed Sathik, learned counsel takes notice for the second respondent.

¶3The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner applied for the post of Health Inspector Grade-II pursuant to notification No.16/MRB/2025 dated

27.10.2025 issued by the second respondent for direct recruitment to 1,429 vacancies in the Tamil Nadu Public Health Subordinate Service. The petitioner had passed Higher Secondary with Biology in 2017 and completed B.Sc., Chemistry and Health Inspector Training from 2017 to 2019 in a recognized institution. She had also served as Health Inspector Grade-II on a temporary basis in the District Health Office, Kancheepuram, from 01.04.2020 to

29.12.2020 during the Covid-19 period and obtained a Covid Duty Certificate. She appeared for the written examination conducted on 07.12.2025 and secured 68 marks and was awarded 4 additional marks for Covid duty, totalling 72 marks, and also cleared the Tamil Eligibility Test. She participated in the certificate verification on 06.01.2026 by submitting all relevant certificates. However, her name was not included in the Provisional Selection List dated

13.01.2026, published by the second respondent. Challenging the same and the notification dated 27.10.2025, the present Writ Petition has been filed. Page4 of 6

¶4Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the Provisional Selection List dated 13.01.2026 has not been prepared in accordance with the principles laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in State of Tamil Nadu vs. K.Shobana, reported in 2021 (4) SCC 686. The impugned list does not disclose the manner in which candidates were selected under the General Turn, backlog vacancies, and communal categories. He submitted that no separate category wise merit list or overall rank list has been published indicating the marks secured by the candidates. In the absence of such particulars, the petitioner is unable to ascertain her correct ranking and the basis on which selection has been made. He submitted that the non publication of detailed merit particulars affects transparency in the selection process. Hence, the learned counsel seeks quashment of the impugned provisional Selection List.

¶5Learned counsel appearing for the second respondent submitted that though the petitioner secured 72 marks, inclusive of 4 marks awarded towards Covid duty weightage, the cut-off mark prescribed for the relevant communal category was 73 marks. Since the petitioner had secured marks below the prescribed cut-off, she was not selected and her non inclusion in the Provisional Selection List is in accordance with the notification and selection norms.

6.This Court has considered the submissions made on either side and perused the materials available on record. Page5 of 6

¶7A perusal of the Provisional Selection List reveals that the details regarding selection under the General Turn, communal categories, and backlog vacancies have not been clearly disclosed. In order to ensure transparency in the selection process and to enable the candidates to ascertain their proper ranking and position, the second respondent is directed to publish a detailed selection list in respect of all categories, including General Turn, communal category, and backlog category, within a period of two (2) weeks from the date of a receipt of a copy of this order. Upon such publication, it is open to the petitioner to work out her remedy in the manner known to law and equally open to any other aggrieved person to do so.

¶8In view of the above observation and direction, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No Costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 29-01-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order ANU Page6 of 6

M.DHANDAPANI, J. ANU To

¶1The Principal Secretary to Government Government of Tamil Nadu, Health and Family Welfare Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009

¶2The Chairman Medical Service Requirement Board (MRB) 7th floor, DMS building, No.359, Anna salai, Teynampet, Chennai-600 006.

¶3The Director Public health and preventive medicine, 7th floor, DMS building, No.359, anna salai, Teynampet, Chenani-600 006. and WMP.Nos.2614 & 2616 of 2026 29-01-2026

Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 29-01-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and WMP.Nos.2614 & 2616 of 2026 Thalapathi Prabakaran S/o.Arumugam, No.3/1210A, Pudhur Road, Valakanambudi, R.K.Pettai, Thiruvallur District-631 303 ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Principal Secretary to Government Government of Tamil Nadu, Health and Family Welfare Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009 2. The Chairman Medical Service Requirement Board (MRB) 7th floor, DMS building, No.359, Anna salai, Teynampet, Chennai-600 006. 3. The Director Public health and Preventive medicine, 7th floor, DMS building, No.359, anna salai, Teynampet, Chenani-600 006. ..Respondent(s) Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to impugned provisional selection list published by the 2nd respondent in PSL No.01/ MRB/ 2026 dated 13.01.2026 pursuant to the notification dated 27.10.2025 of the 2nd respondent and quash the same Page2 of 6 and consequently direct the 2nd respondent to arrive the selection list by preparing list of candidate under General turn at the first instance in consideration of meritorious candidate irrespective of community followed by backlog vacancy and communal vacancy under regular list accordance with ratio laid down by The Honourable Supreme Court of India in State of Tamil Nadu and others-Vs-K.Shobana and others reported in 2021(4) SCC 686 and select and appoint the petitioner to the post of Health Inspector Grade-II in the MBC General Category, if the petitioner cum within the zone of consideration upon redoing of the Selection list. For Petitioner(s): Mr.P.Pandiyaraj For Respondent(s): Mr.R.Tippu Sulthan Government Advocate For R1 And R3 MR.S.J.Mohamed Sathik for R2