J.Murugabharathi v. The Agricultural Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary to Government

O R D E R This Writ Petition has been filed for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the first and second respondents to grant promotion to the petitioner to the post of Deputy Director of Agriculture for the year 2024-2025 by placing the petitioner in the appropriate position in the panel for promotion to the said post for the year 2024-2025, in accordance with Clause 12 of Schedule XI to the Tamil Nadu Government Servants (Conditions of Service) Act, 2016, within the time stipulated by this Court.

¶2After hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner and perusing the entire material on record, it emerges that after a prolonged legal battle, the case of the petitioner was considered for promotion to the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) and accordingly, orders were issued in G.O.(3T) No.97, Agriculture - Farmers Welfare Department, dated 09.12.2025, including the name of the petitioner in the Page No. 2 of 7 panel for promotion to the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) for the panel year 2022-2023 on par with his immediate junior. The petitioner assumed charge as Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) on 07.01.2026 in the forenoon at Manamadurai, Sivagangai District. Thereafter, the petitioner submitted a representation dated

28.03.2026 with a request to promote him as Deputy Director of Agriculture by including his name in the panel for promotion to the said post for the panel year 2024-2025. While the said representation was pending, the petitioner approached this Court by filing the present Writ Petition seeking the relief noted above.

¶3The third respondent has filed a counter affidavit contending that the petitioner was promoted to the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) during the panel year 2022-2023 with effect from

08.03.2024 and that the petitioner assumed charge of the said post only on

07.01.2026. It is further contended that unless and until the petitioner completes three years of regular service in the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension), he will not become eligible for consideration for promotion to the post of Deputy Director of Agriculture. Page No. 3 of 7

¶4The said requirement of completion of three years of regular service in the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) for eligibility for consideration for promotion to the post of Deputy Director of Agriculture is not in dispute. Completion of three years of regular service in the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) is one of the basic qualifications prescribed for eligibility for promotion to the post of Deputy Director of Agriculture.

¶5The order of promotion to the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) issued in favour of the petitioner vide G.O.(3T) No.97, Agriculture - Farmers Welfare Department, dated 09.12.2025, promoting him with effect from 08.03.2024, has not been challenged by the petitioner. Therefore, the date of promotion of the petitioner to the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) with effect from

08.03.2024 has attained finality. Once the petitioner has accepted the date of promotion to the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension) with effect from 08.03.2024, the question of considering his case for further promotion to the post of Deputy Director of Agriculture does not arise, as the petitioner has not completed three years of regular service in Page No. 4 of 7 the post of Assistant Director of Agriculture (Extension). Therefore, the claim made by the petitioner in the present Writ Petition, as well as in the representation seeking consideration of his case for promotion to the post of Deputy Director of Agriculture, cannot be accepted, as the petitioner does not satisfy the eligibility criteria for promotion to the said post.

¶6In the light of the above, no relief can be granted to the petitioner in this Writ Petition. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is dismissed. However, it is made clear that it is open for the petitioner to make a claim for promotion to the post of Deputy Director of Agriculture once he satisfies the minimum eligibility criteria prescribed for promotion to the said post. There shall be no order as to costs.

23.07.2026 JEN NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No To

1.The Agricultural Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary to Government, Agriculture-Farmers Welfare Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009. Page No. 5 of 7

2.The Director of Agriculture, Directorate of Agriculture, Chepauk, Chennai - 5.

3.The Joint Director of Agriculture, Sivagangai, Sivagangai District. Page No. 6 of 7

MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR, J. JEN

23.07.2026 Page No. 7 of 7

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 23.07.2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR J.Murugabharathi ... Petitioner Vs. 1.The Agricultural Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary to Government, Agriculture-Farmers Welfare Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009. 2.The Director of Agriculture, Directorate of Agriculture, Chepauk, Chennai - 5. 3.The Joint Director of Agriculture, Sivagangai, Sivagangai District. ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the first and second respondents to grant promotion to the petitioner in the post of Deputy Director of Agriculture for the year 2024-25 by placing the petitioner in the appropriate place in the Panel for promotion to the post of Deputy Director of Agriculture for the year 2024-25 in accordance with Clause 12 of Schedule XI of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants Conditions of Service Act, 2016 within the time period stipulated by this Court. Page No. 1 of 7 For Petitioner : Mr.T.Aswin Raja Simman For Respondents : Mr.M.Dinesh Hari Sudarsan Counsel for Government of Tamilnadu *****