S. Sangeetha v. State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by Its

ORDER This writ petition has been filed to consider the representations of the petitioners and to consequently direct the respondents to consider and appoint the petitioners for the post of Auxiliary Nurse Midwife / Village Health Nurse, on priority basis as per the rules prevailing on the date of appointment of the petitioners as Anganwadi workers and to consider that the petitioners had joined the ANM training course in a Government institution prior to 25.07.2023 i.e., prior to the amendment in G.O.Ms.No.254 dated 25.07.2023, in terms of the stand taken by the State Government and the order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in S.L.P.(c) Nos.6712 – 6713 of 2024 dated 19.08.2025.

2.The facts of the case in brief are that the petitioners were working as Anganwadi Workers for several years under the Child Development Service Scheme and as per the G.O.(Ms).No.1507 dated 16.08.1989, the Anganwadi workers who had completed two years of service were given Auxiliary Nurse Midwife Training Course in Government Institutions and on completion of the said training course, they have been appointed as Village Health Nurse / Auxiliary Nurse Midwife and this practice was consistently followed for several years. It is stated that pursuant to the existing Special Rules and Government Policy by the aforesaid Government order, the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine issued proceedings calling for applications from qualified Anganwadi Workers for admission into ANM training. The petitioners were selected from 2021 through a proper selection process and had joined in the said training course and completed the same. However, the Government subsequently issued an amended G.O.Ms.No.254/Health and Family Welfare Department (L1) Department dated 25.07.2023, amending the special rules in G.O.Ms.No.1507 dated

16.08.1989 for the recruitment to the post of Auxiliary Nurse Midwife / Village Health Nurse, restricting the mode of selection to only direct recruitment.

3.Aggrieved by the said amendment, the candidates who had joined the said training and completed the same, had challenged the said G.O.Ms.No.254/Health and Family Welfare Department (L1) Department dated 25.07.2023 before this Court by way of W.P. (MD) No.25982 of 2023 and this Court has passed interim directions directing to proceed with the selection process while permitting such candidates to participate in the selection process subject to certain conditions.

4.Challenging the said order, the candidates had approached the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in S.L.P.(c) Nos.6712 – 6713 of 2024 and S.L.P.(Civil Diary) No.54115 of 2025 and the Hon'ble Supreme Court by orders dated

19.08.2025 & 13.10.2025, has disposed of the petitions by granting liberty to the respondent – state to proceed further in terms of their affidavit stating that the candidates who have completed the ANM course in the Government ANM Training Schools on or before 25.07.2023 i.e., before the date on which the Government amended the special rules, will be considered for appointment to the post of VHN / ANM as per the procedure existing prior to G.O.Ms.No.254/Health and Family Welfare Department (L1) Department dated 25.07.2023 and also with a liberty to the parties to approach the High Court to pass appropriate orders for disposing the pending writ petitions.

5.In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the respondents are directed to consider the representations of the petitioners in the light of the order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in S.L.P.(c) Nos.6712 – 6713 of 2024 dated 19.08.2025 within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6.Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of with the above direction. No costs. Consequently, the connected writ miscellaneous petition is closed. 10-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order AY To

¶1State of Tamil Nadu, rep by its Secretary to Government Health and Family Welfare Department Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009.

¶2Medical Services Recruitment Board Rep. by its Member Secretary 7th Floor, DMS Complex Teynampet, Chennai 600 006.

¶3The Director Tamil Nadu Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, DMS Complex, Teynampet, Chennai 600 006 P.T.ASHA, J AY WP No. 9436 of 2026 10-03-2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 10-03-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA WP No. 9436 of 2026 and W.M.P. No. 10154 of 2026 1. S. Sangeetha D/o. M.Sakthivel, No.317, Perumal Temple Street, AthipattuPudunagar, Ponneri Taluk, Chennai - 600 120. 2. K.Saraswathy D/o. D.Kalyanasundaram No.5/7, Parthasarathy Street, 3rd Lane, Old Washermanpet, Chennai - 600 021. 3. E.Padma Priya D/o. V.Ezhumalai, No.1/62, Perumal Koil Street, Malivakkam, Ponneri Taluk, Chennai - 600 067 4. A. Meena D/o. Appadurai, New Street, Kuchur, Kattumannar Kovil, Cuddalore District-608 360. 5. K. Sangeetha D/o. Karunagaran, No.117, Periyar Street, Kanankudi, Pennanagaram, Chidamabram Taluk, Cuddalure District-608 002 6. R. Ranjani Devi D/o. Rajaranm No,3/30, East Street, Nilakottai, Dindukal District-624 707. 7. M. Rajeswari D/o. Mani, No.5/289, Eazhugundur Village, Panjapalli, Palagodu Taluk, Dharmapuri District-633 812. 8. C. Uma D/o. Chandrakasan, No.486/A, South Street, Pazhanjanallur, KattumannarKovil, CuddaloreDistrict -608 301. 9. S. Gayathri D/o. Somasundharam, Kongavaganur, Panruti Taluk, CuddaloreDistrict 607 104. 10.K.Chitra D/o. Krishnasamy, Door No. 32, Mullai Street, Periyar Nagar, Kattumannar Kovil, CuddaloreDistrict -608 301. 11.V. Valli D/o. Viswanathan, Door No.30, North Street, Sitharasur, Ananathapuram, VillupuramDistrict -605 201. 12.R. Shanthi D/o. Raju, Door No.2/22, Karunanidhi Street, Rishivandhiyam Post, Vanapuram Taluk, KallakurichiDistrict -606 205 13.S. Sathiyakala D/o. Samikannu, Door No.15/27, Chidambaram Taluk, CuddaloreDistrict -608 102. 14.R. Selvambal D/o. Ramasamy, Door No.4/9, Melavanniyanur, Poondi, Kalasapakkam, ThiruvannamalaiDistrict -600 750. 15.T. Rubini D/o. Tirupathi, Door. No.85, Indira Nagar, Kuppanatham, Sengam, ThiruvannamalaiDistrict -606 710. 16.N. Rajalakshmi D/o. Natarajan, Door No.1/36, Pillaiyar Kovil Street, 57 Thenpathi, Chozapandi, Mannarkudi, TiruvarurDistrict -614 016 17.S. Subhasti D/o. Subramaniyan,. Door No.338, Amirtha New Nagar, Samanthapettai, Collecter Office, NagapatinamDistrict -611 003. 18.N. Saritha D/o.Neelamegam, Old Kantharvakottai, PuthukottaiDistrict -613 301 19.A. Sudha D/o. Appavu, Door No.1/338, mettupatti, PonnanViduthi, Karambakudi PuthukottaiDistrict -622 301 20.M. Chitra D/o. Munusamy, Door No.,1/1, Sudanur, Kumannur, Palacode, DharmapuriDistrict -635 116 21.T. Parameswari D/o. Thangavel, Door No.1/37, KeezhaTheru, Overur, Thiruthuraipoondi, ThiruvarurDistrict -614 703. 22.M. Vijaya D/o. Murugesan , Door No.5/171, Nakkalpatti, Bargur, KrishnagiriDistrict -635 203. 23.P. Kalpana D/o. Pandiyan, Door No.81/199, Palla Street, Vellapakkam CuddaloreDistrict -607 109. 24.V. Kalyani D/o. Vilvamani, Door No.75/88, Chinnamalai Mettu Street, Eadapadi, SalemDistrict -637 101. 25.M. Muthulakshmi D/o. Murhuraman, Door No.223A, West Bharathi nagar, Manakattur Road, Kalingarayapalayam, Bhavani, ErodeDistrict -638 301. 26.D.Devika D/o. Devanathan, Door No.124A, Dr.Ambedkar Nagar, MB Agaram, Manalmedu, CuddaloreDistrict -607 402. 27.K. Ponniyammal D/o. Kannayiram, Door No.131, Thaliyari Street, Jakkampettai Village, Thenpasiyar, Thindivanam, VillupuramDistrict -604 001. 28.S. Mathu D/o. Selvaraj, Door Noi.1/319B, Mahalakshmi Street, Chennai Salai, KrishnagiriDistrict -635 001. 29.M.D. Menaga D/o. Duraikannan, Door No.12/511, Krishnar Street, Swamy Vivekananthanagar, Oorapakkam, KanchipuramDistrict -603 210. 30.S. Vinodhini D/o.Sokkalingam, Door No.10/12, Cross Street, Sanjeevarayanpettai, Dhindivanam, Villupuram District -604 001. 31.C. Thenmozhi D/o. Chandran, Door N.8/37, Koya Arunagiri 1st Street, Royapettah, Chennai-600 014. 32.M. Indira D/o. M.K. Manikkam, Door No.53, Indira Nagar, Maduranthagam Chengalpattu District -603 306. 33.M. Uthra D/o. Murugan, Door No.292, Amman Kovil Street, Kalpoondi, Keelpennathur, ThiruvannmalaiDistrict -604 601. 34.P. Hemavathi D/o. Peruml. Door No. 359, Praminar Street, Anakkavur, Cheyyar, ThirvannamalaiDistrict -604 401. 35.A. Mahalak