J.Jothimurugan v. State of Tamilnadu

Page1 of 10 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 02-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE N.SENTHILKUMAR AND WP NO. 21959 OF 2025,WP NO. 21962 OF 2025

¶1K.Dhamotharamoorthy Junior Engineer, Veerakkalpudur Town Panchayat, Salem District.

¶2P.Anbazhahan Junior Engineer, Konganapuram Town Panchayat, Salem District

¶3K.V. Baskaran Junior Engineer, Pethanaickenpalayam Town Panchayat, Salem District.

¶4R. Murali, Junior Engineer, Alangayam Town Panchayat, Tirupattur District.

¶5B.Saravanan Junior Engineer, Sendamangalam Town Panchayat, Namakkal District.

¶6K. Kanagaraju Junior Engineer, Vedapatti Town Panchayat, Coimbatore.

¶7A. Senthil Kumar Junior Engineer, Zaminuthukuli Town Panchayat, Page2 of 10 Coimbatore District

¶8T. Muthu Junior Engineer, Thirumazhi Sai Town Panchayat, Thiruvallur District.

¶9M. Arunagiri Junior Engineer, Sankari Town Panchayat, Salem District

10.M.Santhosh Kumar Junior Engineer, Uthiramerur Town Panchayat, Kanchipuram District

11.K.Sambath Kumar Junior Engineer, Ethimadai Town Panchayat, Head Office Coimbatore District

12.K. Gopi, Junior Engineer, Muthupettai Town Panchayat, Thiruvarur District

13.N. Rajavel Junior Engineer, Avinashi Town Panchayat, Tiruppur District,

14.A. Purusothaman Junior Engineer, Iragur Town Panchayat, Coimbatore District.

15.K. Sakthivel Junior Engineer, Valappadi Town Panchayat, Salem District

16.C.Sambanthamoorthy Junior Engineer, Anthiyur Town Panchayat, Erode District. Page3 of 10

17.R.Pugazhendi Junior Engineer, O/o. Director Of Town Panchayat, Chennai

18.R. Ganesh, Junior Engineer,derarshola Town Panchayat,nilgiris District

19.T. Vincent, Junior Engineer,ketti Town Panchayat, Nilgiris District

20.R. Kannan, Junior Engineer, Kodumudi Town Panchayat, Erode District. ..Petitioner(s) Vs

¶1State Of Tamilnadu Rep. by its Additional Chief Secretary To Government, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

¶2State Of Tamil Nadu Rep. By Its Principal Secretary To Government, Municipal Administration And Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009

¶3The Director Of Town Panchayats, Urban Administration Office Complex, 7th And 8th Floor, 75, Santhome High Road, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai 600 028

¶4The Joint Director (General), Directorate Of Town Panchayat, M.C.R. Nagar, Chennai-600 028. Page4 of 10 ..Respondent(s) WP No. 21959 of 2025 K.Anbu Kumar Junior Engineer, Pennadam Town Panchayat, Cuddalore District ..Petitioner(s) Vs

¶1State Of Tamilnadu Rep By Its Additional Chief Secretary To Government, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009

¶2State Of Tamilnadu Rep By Its Principal Secretary To Government, Municipal Administration And Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009

¶3The Director Of Town Panchayat Urban Administration Office Complex, 7th And 8th Floor, 75, Santhome High Road, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai-600 028

¶4The Joint Director (General) Directorate Of Town Panchayat, M.C.R Nagar, Chennai-600 028 ..Respondent(s) WP No. 21962 of 2025 J.Jothimurugan Junior Engineer, Bhuvanagiri Town Panchayat, Cuddalore District ..Petitioner(s) Vs

¶1State Of Tamilnadu Rep By Its Additional Chief Secretary To Government, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009

¶2State Of Tamilnadu Rep By Its Principal Secretary To Government, Municipal Administration And Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009 Page5 of 10

¶3The Director Of Town Panchayat Urban Administration Office Complex, 7th And 8th Floor, 75, Santhome High Road, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai-600 028

¶4The Joint Director (General) Directorate Of Town Panchayat, M.C.R Nagar, Chennai-600 028 ..Respondent(s) Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India issuing writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records on the file of 1st respondent in connection with the qualification prescribed for Assistant Engineer under rule 227 of special rules for the Tamil Nadu Town Panchayat Service as enumerated in Chapter V of Part V of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023 in so far as Table II in Sl.No. 1 with regard to method of appointment by promotion from among the holders of the post of Junior Engineer as well as the Sub Rule 2 in respect of qualification with regard to eligibility for promotion, particularly the requirement of not less than five (5) years of service as Junior Engineer and quash the same as illegal and arbitrary and unconstitutional and consequently directing the respondents to re-designate petitioners in the post of Assistant Engineer from the date of promotion as Junior Engineer with all attendant service and monitory benefits in the light of Rule 3 of Tamil Nadu Town Panchayats Engineering Service Rules, 2022 within the time limit that may be stipulated by this Court. WP No. 21959 of 2025 Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India issuing writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records on the file of 1st respondent in connection with the qualification prescribed for Assistant Engineer under Rule 227 of Special rules for the Tamilnadu Town panchayat service as enumerated in Chapter V of Part V of the Tamilnadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023 in so far as Table II in SL.No.1 with regard to method of appointment by promotion from among the holdersof the post of Junior Page6 of 10 Engineer as well as the Sub Rule 2 in respect of qualification with regard to eligibility for promotion, particularly the requirement of not less than five (5) years of service as Junior Engineer and quash the same as illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional and consequently directing the respondents to re-designated the petitioner in the post of Assistant Engineer from the date of promotion as Junior Engineer with all attendant service and monitory benefits in the light of Rules 3 of Tamilnadu Town Panchayats Engineer service Rules 2022 within the time limit that may be stipulated by this Court WP No. 21962 of 2025 Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India issuing writ of certiorarified mandamus calling for the records on the file of 1st respondent in connection with the qualification prescribed for Assistant Engineer under Rule 227 of Special rules for the Tamilnadu Town Panchayat Service as enumerated in Chapter V of Part V of the Tamilnadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023 in so far as Table II in SL.No.1 with regard to method of appointment by promotion from among the holdersof the post of Junior Engineer as well as the Sub Rule 2 in respect of qualification with regard to eligibility for promotion, particularly the requirement of not less than five

(5)years of service as Junior Engineer and quash the same as illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional and consequently directing the respondents to re-designated the petitioner in the post of Assistant Engineer from the date of promotion as Junior Engineer with all attendant service and monitory benefits in the light of Rules 3 of Tamilnadu Town Panchayats Engineer service Rules 2022 within the time limit that may be stipulated by this Court. In all Writ Petitions For Petitioner(s): No Appearance For Respondent(s): MR.R.Sankar, Government Counsel for R1 to R4 Page7 of 10 Common Order (Order of the Court was made by S.M.Subramaniam J.) Writ Petitions are instituted calling for the records on the file of 1st respondent in connection with the qualification prescribed for Assistant Engineer under Rule 227 of Special rules for the Tamilnadu Town Panchayat Service as enumerated in Chapter V of Part V of the Tamilnadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023 in so far as Table II in SL.No.1 with regard to method of appointment by promotion from among the holdersof the post of Junior Engineer as well as the Sub Rule 2 in respect of qualification with regard to eligibility for promotion, particularly the requirement of not less than five

(5)years of service as Junior Engineer and quash the same as illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional and consequently directing the respondents to re-designated the petitioner in the post of Assistant Engineer from the date of promotion as Junior Engineer with all attendant service and monitory benefits in the light of Rules 3 of Tamilnadu Town Panchayats Engineer service Rules 2022 within the time limit that may be stipulated by this Court.

¶2The Commissioner, Town Panchayat filed a counter affidavit stating that erstwhile Tamil Nadu Town Panchayats Engineering Service Rules, 2022 does not exists or in force to grant relief to the petitioners. Therefore, the relief as such sought for in the writ petitions deserves no further merit consideration. Page8 of 10 Para 4 of the counter affidavit reads as under: "..

¶4I submit that the petitioner seeks relief under Tamil Nadu Town Panchayats Engineering Service Rules 2022, which was already superseded, not in force and replaced by the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998, came into effect from 13.04.2023. The Sec.200 (3) (c) of the said Act reads as follows, "(c) all rules, bye-laws, notifications, notice, orders, directions or any other proceedings issued and schemes framed and works sanctioned by the Government or the municipality concerned immediately before the date of the commencement of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies (Amendment) Act, 2022 shall so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, continue to be in force and be deemed to have been issued or framed or sanctioned under the provisions of this Act until they are superseded or modified or reissued under the provisions of this Act; Therefore, the erstwhile Tamil Nadu Town Panchayats Engineering Service Rules 2022 does not exists or in force, to grant relief to the petitioners." Page9 of 10

¶3In view of the fact that relief sought for in the present writ petitions in the context of Tamil Nadu Town Panchayats Engineering Service Rules, 2022 lost its relevance, the writ petitions are disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions, if any, are closed. (S.M.S.,J.) (N.S.,J.) 02-07-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order GD To

¶1State Of Tamilnadu Rep. By Its Additional Chief Secretary To Government, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

¶2State Of Tamil Nadu Rep. By Its Principal Secretary To Government, Municipal Administration And Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009

¶3The Director Of Town Panchayats, Urban Administration Office Complex, 7th And 8th Floor, 75, Santhome High Road, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai 600 028

¶4The Joint Director (general), Directorate Of Town Panchayat, M.C.R. Nagar, Chennai-600 028. WPoNo.o39686oofo2024 S.M.SUBRAMANIAMeJ. AND N.SENTHILKUMAReJ. GD WPeNo.e39686eofe2024 AND WPeNO.e21959eOFe2025,WPeNO.e21962eOFe2025, 02-07-2026 Page10oofo10