Praveen R v. Union of India

ORDER (Order of the Court was made by P.VELMURUGAN,J.) The present Writ Petition is filed challenging the interim order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Chennai Bench, (hereinafter referred to as 'the Tribunal') in O.A.No.272 of 2026, dated 02.03.2026.

2.The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner belongs to Scheduled Caste Community and applied for the post of Sub-Inspector of Police, wherein he was provisionally selected. At the time of verification, the petitioner was directed to submit a fresh community certificate, which is after the due selection process. When he had applied for the same before the jurisdictional Tahsildar, he rejected the same. Challenging the rejection order, an Original Application was filed before the Tribunal. Pending the said application, the petitioner had sought for an interim order. However, the Tribunal, without considering the interim relief sought for by the petitioner, had Page3 of 6 directed the respondents to keep one post vacant till the final outcome of the application. This order of the Tribunal is challenged by way of this Writ Petition. The learned counsel submitted that the Tribunal failed to follow the mandate of the DoPT OMs dated 08.10.2015 and 14.03.2016 by placing the petitioner out of employment, even though it had protected the right of the petitioner by keeping one post vacant.

3.The learned Assistant Solicitor General of India submitted that pending the Original Application, counter affidavit has been filed by the respondents and as and when the application is taken up for final disposal, they will be ready to argue the case on merits.

4.Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.

5.Admittedly, the rejection order passed by the Tahsildar is under challenge before the Tribunal. Pending the application, the Tribunal had rightly given a direction to the respondents to keep one post of Sub-Inspector of Police in the Scheduled Caste category vacant, subject to the final outcome of the application. Since the petitioner was provisionally selected for the said post and due to lack of community certificate on the cut-off date, his appointment was kept on hold. Page4 of 6

6.Considering the facts and circumstances of the case in hand and also the rejection order passed by the Tahsildar, which is pending before the Tribunal, this Court finds no perversity in the order of the Tribunal, in view of the direction by the Tribunal to keep one post of Sub-Inspector of Police vacant. Since one post is kept vacant, pursuant to the directions of the Tribunal, no prejudice would be caused to the petitioner and therefore, this Court finds that the Writ Petition lacks merits.

7.Accordingly, the Writ Petition stands dismissed at the admission stage itself. In view of dismissal of this Writ Petition, the respondents are directed to file the counter affidavit before the Tribunal in the next date of hearing and on receipt of the same, the Tribunal shall hear and dispose the matter on merits in accordance with law, after giving due opportunity to both the parties. The said exercise shall be completed by the Tribunal, as expeditiously as possible. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. (P.V.,J.) (K.G.T.,J.) 27-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order hvk Page5 of 6 To

¶1The Registrar, Central Administrative Tribunal, Chennai Bench, Chennai.

¶2The Secretary to Government, Union of India, Union Territory of Puducherry, Police Department, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry-605 001.

¶3The Special officer (Police), Police Department, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry 605 001.

¶4The Tahsildar-cum-Executive Magistrate, Taluk office, Villianur, Puducherry-605 110. WPoNo.o16384oofo2026 P.VELMURUGAN,J. AND K.GOVINDARAJANoTHILAKAVADI,J. hvk WPoNo.o16384oofo2026 and WMP.Nos.17598o&o17599oofo2026 27-04-2026 Page6oofo6

Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 27-04-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P. VELMURUGAN AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE K. GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI WP.No.16384 of 2026 and WMP.Nos.17598 & 17599 of 2026 Praveen.R ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. Union Of India, Rep. by the Union Territory of Puducherry, Through its Secretary to Government, Police Department, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry-605 001. 2. The Special officer (Police), Police Department, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry-605 001. 3. The Tahsildar-cum-Executive Magistrate, Taluk office, Villianur, Puducherry-605 110. ..Respondent(s) Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Chennai Bench, pertaining to the interim order in Original Application bearing O.A. No.310/272/2026 dated 02.03.2026 to the extent it denied the relief of provisional appointment in the post of Sub- Inspector of Police, quash the same as illegal and consequently direct the respondents 1 and 2 to provisionally appoint the petitioner in the post of Sub- Page2 of 6 Inspector of Police pursuant to the recruitment notification bearing No.1-2/ A2/ Estt.I(A)/POL/2024 dated 12.08.2025 as mandated by DoPT's Office Memorandum No.36011/1/2012-Estt.(Res) Dated 08.10.2015 reiterated vide Communication dated 14.03.2016. For Petitioner(s): Ms.Anna Mathew For Respondent(s): Mr.AR.L.Sundaresan, ASG assisted by Mr.R.Syed Mustafa, Spl. GP (Puducherry)