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R.Karthikeyan vs The State Of Tamil Nadu
2025 Latest Caselaw 8722 Mad

Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 8722 Mad
Judgement Date : 19 November, 2025

Madras High Court

R.Karthikeyan vs The State Of Tamil Nadu on 19 November, 2025

Author: G.K.Ilanthiraiyan
Bench: G.K.Ilanthiraiyan
                                                                                        W.P.No.39119 of 2025

                                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

                                            RESERVED ON : 06.11.2025

                                          PRONOUNCED ON : 19.11.2025

                                                          CORAM:

                             THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN

                                               W.P.No.39119 of 2025
                                        and W.M.P.Nos.43896 & 43897 of 2025

                     1. R.Karthikeyan
                     2. V.Mariappan
                     3. K.Gopinath
                     4. Thayalan
                     5. Eraninan
                     6. M.Meenakshisundaram
                     7. T.Thirunavukkarasu                                              ... Petitioners
                                                               Vs.

                     1. The State of Tamil Nadu
                     Rep. By its Secretary to Government,
                     Home Department,
                     Secretariat, Chennai – 600 009.

                     2. The Director General of Police,
                     Dr.Radhakrishnan Road,
                     Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004.

                     3. A.Arun
                     (R3 Impleaded vide order
                     dated 30.10.2025 made in
                     W.M.P.No.45795 of 2025
                     in W.P.No.39119 of 2025)

                     4. G.Karthik


                     Page 1 of 30


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                                                                                      W.P.No.39119 of 2025

                     5. A.Arun
                     6. S.Ameer Ali Jinna
                     7. U.M.Avinash
                     8. R.Stephen Vinodh
                     9. S.Madhan Kumar
                     (R4 to R9 Impleaded vide order
                     dated 30.10.2025 made in
                     W.M.P.No.4600 of 2025
                     in W.P.No.39119 of 2025)

                     10. Chelladurai
                     11. R.Tamilselvi
                     12. J.Deepa
                     13. Manojkumar
                     14. G.Gopal
                     15. Manoj M.T.
                     (R10 to R14 Impleaded vide
                     order dated 19.11.2025 made
                     in W.M.P.No.47094 of 2025
                     in W.P.No.39119 of 2025)

                     16. C.Venkatesan
                     17. M.Anbazhagan
                     (R16 & R17 Impleaded vide
                     order dated 19.11.2025 made
                     in W.M.P.No.48046 of 2025
                     in W.P.No.39119 of 2025)                                         ... Respondents

                     Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India
                     for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, by calling for the
                     records and quashing the impugned orders dated 01.07.2025 vide
                     Rc.No.1025/07/NGB 5(1)/P-21/2025 and 08.08.2025 vide Rc.No.1025/
                     08/MGB 5(1)/P-24/2025 issued by the second respondent DGP promoting
                     batch mates of the petitioners from the post of SIs to Inspector of Police
                     based on marks obtained at Police Training College (PTC) contrary to the

                     Page 2 of 30


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                                                                                         W.P.No.39119 of 2025

                     Apex Court judgment dated 01.05.2025 rendered in Civil Appeal
                     No.6305-6306 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP (C) Nos.5137-5138) of 2021
                     and confirmed in the Review Petition vide Diary No.30381/2025 dated
                     02.09.2025 as well as the draft seniority list dated 08.10.2025 vide
                     Rc.No.284045/Rect 2(2)/2011 and consequently direct the respondents to
                     issue the revised seniority list of the petitioners' batch of the year 2010-
                     2011 by way of re-arranging their seniority for promotion from the post of
                     SI of police to Inspector of Police based on the selection process marks as
                     envisaged in the above order of the Supreme Court dated 01.05.2025 by
                     placing the petitioners under the Taluk/Category-I for the 2010-2011 as
                     par the marks secured by them during the selection process within time
                     frame.
                                    For Petitioners        : Mr.K.Anantha Padmanaban,
                                                             Senior Counsel
                                                             For Mr.S.Dayanand
                                    For Respondents
                                      For R1 & R2          : Mr.P.Kumaresan
                                                             Additional Advocate General
                                                             Assisted by Mr.V.Jeevagiritharan
                                                             Additional Government Pleader

                                         For R3            : Mr.P.Mohanraj
                                     For R4 to R9          : Mr.K.Venkataramani
                                                             Senior Counsel
                                                             For Mr.M.Muthappan

                                     For R10 to R15 : Mr.S.R.Rajagopal
                                                      Senior Counsel
                                                      For Mrs.Jayanthi K Shah

                                     For R16 & R17 : Mr.Vijay Narayan
                                                     Senior Counsel


                     Page 3 of 30


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                                                                                            W.P.No.39119 of 2025

                                                                For Mr.C.Vigneswaran

                                                              ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed challenging the orders dated

01.07.2025 & 08.08.2025, passed by the second respondent thereby

promoting the batch mates of the petitioners from the post of Sub

Inspector of Police to Inspector of Police and also the draft seniority list

dated 08.10.2025.

2. The petitioners were appointed as Sub Inspector of Police by

direct recruitment as per the notification dated 01.04.2010. They were

selected and appointed under the category of Armed reserved and Tamil

Nadu Special Police, respectively. After completion of their ten years of

service, on their request, they were permitted for conversion under Law &

Order category. Now they are working as Sub Inspector of Police under

Law & Order category. Now they are challenging the allotment order on

promotion dated 01.07.2025 & 08.08.2025 from the post of Sub Inspector

of Police to the post of Inspector of Police and the draft seniority list dated

08.10.2025, on the ground that all the Sub Inspector of Police were

recruited under the same notification in the same rank of Sub Inspector of

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Police, but the persons who secured lesser marks than the petitioners were

placed as senior to the petitioners and were promoted to the post of

Inspector of Police. As per the order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court

of India in the case of R.Ranjith Singh & Ors Vs. The State of Tamil

Nadu & Ors in Civil Appeal Nos.6305-6306 of 2025 dated 01.05.2025,

the seniority list has to be drafted as per the marks obtained by the officers

during the selection process. They were directed to serve in the post of

Sub Inspector of Police under the category of Armed Reserve and Tamil

Nadu Special Police. Further as against the order passed by the Hon'ble

Supreme Court of India, the draft seniority list was also published on

08.10.2025. The petitioners were placed below the persons who scored

lesser marks than the petitioners. Hence, the petitioners filed the present

writ petition with the above prayer.

3. Mr.K.Anantha Padmanaban, learned Senior Counsel

appearing for the petitioners submits that the selection and appointment of

the Sub Inspector of Police are under three categories viz., Law & order

(Category I), Armed Reserve (Category II) & Tamilnadu Special Police

(Category III), on merit by categorising the candidates on selection based

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marks. In the year 2010, for the first time, as per the notification dated

01.04.2010, applications were invited to fill up 1095 vacancies in the post

of Sub Inspector of Police by direct recruitment. The petitioners were

appointed in their respective categories, in the year 2011, on the basis of

communal rotation marks and not on the basis of merit. One year training

commenced for all three categories from 01.02.2011 to 31.01.2012. In

fact, the entire selection process was made under single notification by

means of a single selection by making the candidates participate in the

common competitive examination. Therefore, the appointment to the post

of Sub Inspector of Police was only based on the communal rotation and

cut off marks, for each category.

3.1. He further submits that whoever scored the highest cut off

marks in the respective communal reservation was posted in the category I

and second highest in category II and the rest in category III. Besides,

there are horizontal reservations for sports quota, ward's quota, women's

quota and other categories. Since the petitioners scored less than the

highest cut off marks under their communal categories, they were

appointed under the categories II & III as Sub Inspector of Police. Dehors

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the option, cut off marks as per the communal rotation was the only basis

for the appointment of the Sub Inspector of Police, as per the notification.

While granting the conversion to the petitioners to category I, the

respondents obtained an undertaking from the petitioners for not claiming

any seniority in their parent category viz., category II & III including

future promotions. Therefore, their seniority in the category II & III would

get merged with the category I upon such conversion. In fact, the

promotion under the categories II & III are much quicker than in category

I. However, the petitioners sacrificed such seniority while entering into the

category I. Further, the salary is one and the same for all the three

categories.

3.2. He further submitted that while ordering conversion to the

petitioners, it was not stated to them that their seniority would be placed

below the persons recruited under category I. He also relied upon the Rule

14(b) of the Fundamental Rules. It states that a government servant can

exercise lien only for three years as against his parent cadre to get

transferred to some other category. Now the petitioners have completed

five years of service after their conversion. Hence, the appointment of the

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petitioners were made only upon the communal rotation marks. The

Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in W.A.No.500 of 2008 in the case

of the State of Tamil Nadu & ors Vs. A.Subbiah Pandian & ors., dated

16.06.2008 held that, as per Rule 25(b) of the Special Rules for Tamil

Nadu Police Subordinate Service (hereinafter referred to as “TNPSS

Rules”), transfer from one category to another category will not take away

the seniority of a person so transferred from the previous category. The

said judgment was confirmed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in

S.L.P. (Civil)No.10319 of 2009 dated 20.01.2009. Thereafter, conversion

order was passed dated 20.05.2020 on the basis of the government order

in G.O.Ms.No.446 dated 25.07.2003. Further, the Hon’ble Supreme Court

of India held in the case of Indra Sawhney Vs. Union of India reported in

1992 (3) SCC 217 that any appointment made on the basis of reservation

or communal rotation should only be at entry level and not for seniority

and promotion.

3.3. Now the persons who were recruited along with the

petitioners to the post of Sub Inspector of Police are promoted to the post

of Inspector of Police based on the Police Training Institute marks and not

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by selection marks. It is clear violation of the judgment passed by the

Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Ranjith Singh's case dated

01.05.2025. Further, the promotions were granted to the Inspectors of

Police subject to outcome of the review petition filed as against the order

passed in Ranjith Singh's case. Therefore, when the review petition was

dismissed on 02.09.2025, the respondents ought to have recalled the order

of promotion. Therefore, the order of promotion as well as the draft

seniority list cannot be sustained and are liable to be quashed.

4. The respondents 1 & 2 filed counter and Mr.P.Kumaresan,

learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents 1 & 2

submits that the Tamil Nadu Uniform Service Recruitment Board had

issued notification dated 01.04.2010, for recruitment to the post of Sub

Inspector of Police. Accordingly, 1095 posts were called for in which, 810

posts under the category of Taluk Police, 161 posts under the category of

Armed Reserved and 135 posts under the category of Tamil Nadu Special

Police were notified. The recruitment will be done as per the existing

reservation quotas. The post of Sub Inspector of Police in each category

were filled based on the gradation mark and preference of the candidates.

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Therefore, in the application form itself, the candidates were requested to

mention their order of preference of the categories. Thereafter, they were

recruited as per the mark, rank and their order of preference subject to the

rule of reservation.

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4.1. Accordingly, the petitioners had applied for the post of Sub

Inspector of Police and as per their preferences and gradation marks in

their respective categories they were recruited as Sub Inspector of Police

in the Armed Reserve and Tamil Nadu Special Police viz., categories II &

III respectively. Thereafter, they were sent for training in their respective

categories. Their seniority were fixed along with their batch mates under

their respective categories. Accordingly, seniority was fixed to those who

were recruited in category I through departmental quota and then who

were recruited through open quota under category I, those who were

recruited under the category II through department quota and thereafter

those who were recruited through open quota under category II and finally

those who were recruited under category III through departmental quota

and then those who were recruited through open quota under the category

III. Therefore, their seniority was accordingly fixed at entry level in the

rank of Sub Inspector of Police in their respective categories. Those who

were recruited under category II & III, were converted to category I at

later stage. Their inter-se seniority was placed as per second proviso to

Rule 25(a) & 25(b) of the TNPSS Rules. Thereafter, whenever they reach

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the zone of consideration for promotion to the post of Inspector of Police,

they will be promoted to the post of Inspector of Police.

4.2. As per the government order in G.O.Ms.No.1598, Home

(Pol.3) Department, dated 05.11.1997, it was ordered to earmarked 10%

of direct recruitment vacancies to the post of Sub Inspector of Police under

first category filled up by the Sub Inspectors of Police who were recruited

under the second and third category by conversion, subject to satisfaction

that they must be graduate, they should not have completed 40 years of

age and they should have completed five years of service as Sub Inspector

of Police in their respective category. One of the petitioners and 39 others

filed a Writ Petition in W.P.No.10288 of 2018, to consider their request

seeking for conversion to category I. This Court by an order dated

07.08.2018, directed to consider their request on its own merits.

Accordingly, 14 Sub Inspectors of Police from category II and 11 Sub

Inspectors of Police in category III of 2011 batch alone were considered

for conversion to category I and passed order in G.O.Ms.09 Home

(Pol.III) Department, dated 06.01.2020 by transferring them as a onetime

measure.

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4.3. Accordingly, they were transferred and posted as Sub

Inspectors of Police in the category I as per the order dated 20.05.2020.

Their seniority was fixed below the Sub Inspectors of Police who were

already recruited directly under category I under open quota in the same

year of recruitment as per the proviso 2 to Rule 25(a) & 25(b) of the

TNPSS Rules. Thereafter, they were included in the panel to the post of

Inspector of Police of the year 2024-2025 by the proceedings dated

27.04.2025. Accordingly, 245 Sub Inspectors of Police were promoted to

the post of Inspectors of Police.

4.5. While being so, with regard to fixation of seniority of Sub

Inspectors of Police who were appointed in the departmental quota, en-

mass over and above open quota candidates approached this Court and

finally the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India by an order dated 01.05.2025

in Civil Appeal Nos.6305 to 6307 of 2025 in the case of R.Ranjith Singh

& ors Vs. The State of Tamil Nadu & ors., struck down the amendment

to Rule 25(a) of the TNPSS Rules issued vide G.O.Ms.No.868 Home

(Police-VI) Department, dated 21.11.2017, holding that the said provision

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is in violation of Article 14, 16 & 21 of the Constitution of India and also

issued certain directions. As directed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of

India, the government passed an order in G.O.Ms.No.410 Home (Police-

III) Department, dated 18.08.2025 and directed to conduct common

examination for both 20% departmental category and 80% open

candidates quota in the direct recruitment to the post of Sub Inspector of

Police. Thereafter, the government issued guide lines to be adopted in

common recruitment to the post of Sub Inspector of Police in all

categories.

4.6. In the meantime, the government also filed review petition

with regard to paragraph 28 (a) & (e) of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of

India of its order dated 01.05.2025, and the same was also dismissed.

Further, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India directed the respondents to

issue gradation list solely on the basis of the marks obtained by the

candidates in the examinations in which they have been recruited to their

respective posts. In compliance of the said order, they revised the seniority

list and drafted the draft seniority list dated 08.05.2025. As per the marks

obtained by them in the qualifying examination conducted by the Tamil

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Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board. Insofar as the petitioners

are concerned, according to their preferences and gradation marks, their

seniority list has been revised along with all their batchmates under the

category II & III. They will be considered for promotion as well as they

will reach the zone of consideration for promotion to the post of Inspector

of Police.

7. While pending the Writ Petition, the respondents 3 to 17

impleaded themselves in the present petition. The respondents 3, 16 & 17

supported the case of the petitioners and are sailing along with the

petitioners. The respondents 4 to 15 are against the case of the petitioners.

8. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and

perused the materials placed before this Court.

9. Though the syllabus for the selection process are common for

all the categories, the qualification slightly differs between male and

female recruitment with regard to physical efficiency standard and test

parameters, as prescribed under Rule 18(a) and Appendix VII of the

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TNPSS Rules. During the selection process, the candidates were allotted

to one of the three categories. As per the notification, the recruitment was

made for the post of Sub Inspector of Police in all three categories as per

their marks, rank and their order of preference subject to the rule of

reservation. It is clarified that the candidates are not automatically allotted

to the categories that they opted for in their applications. The candidates

who scored the highest ranks in each quota are allotted to their preferred

categories, be it category I, II or III. After allotting the meritorious

candidates of each quota to their preferred categories, the rest of the

candidates who scored subsequent ranks are allotted to categories that

they opted for, if there were vacancies available in those categories,

otherwise they are allotted to subsequent categories based on their marks,

ranking, order of preference subject to the rule of reservation. Therefore,

there are always high chances for the candidates who scored lesser marks

to end up in higher categories than their counterparts who scored higher

marks than them and hence, its not just the marks, ranks or order of

preference that are the deciding factor but it's ultimately the candidates'

communal reservation. Further the composition of recruits includes 80%

open market candidates and 20% department promotees. However, each

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category has a distinct subsequent training and operational focus,

reflecting the specific responsibilities of the category.

10. Insofar as the category I is concerned, it relates to general

law and order duties; the category II deals with district reserve operations,

escorts and operational support and the category III deals with riot control,

anti-insurgency and specialized law enforcement duties. Further the

candidates in the first or second category may voluntarily opt for the

second or third category. The candidate in second or third category cannot

claim appointment to the first category. Each of the government orders

stipulates that seniority in the first category, after converted into first

category, shall be reckoned from the date of conversion and not from the

date of selection process after training. Further upon conversion from one

category to another, their seniority in the new category shall commence

from the date of such conversion and cannot relate back to the date of

initial appointment in the earlier cadre.

11. As far as the category I is concerned, they had undergone one

year rigorous training at Tamil Nadu Police Training Academy consisting

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16 subjects including criminal law, investigation, police procedure and

administrative management followed by six months of practical training in

police stations and one year of probation training. But as far as categories

of II & III are concerned, the training process comparatively shorter and

less demanding. In the category II, they had undergone training primarily

in traffic control, arms handling, and the category III training focuses on

riot control, crowd management and disaster response. The training

undergone by the Sub Inspector of Police under the category I is as

follows :-

                      Sl.No.                             Subjects                              Max. Marks
                          1       Modern India role of Police & Administration                 100


                          4       Indian Evidence Act & Constitution & Human 100
                                  Rights






                         11       Criminology, Human Behaviour & Management 100
                                  Technique






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                      Sl.No.                              Subjects                                  Max. Marks
                         14        Outdoor (including parade & mob handling, first 250
                                   aid, disaster management, fire & rescue, BDDS,
                                   VVIP security)
                         15        Internal Assessment (including library studies)                  50
                         16        Police Station management & Crime control                        100
                                                                          Total 1700

12. The Sub Inspector of Police who were recruited under

category II & III had undergone the following training:-

                       Sl.No.                             Subjects                                  Max. Marks


                           3        Police Standing Order & Armed Reserve Police 100
                                    Administration

                           5        Internal security        &      Disaster         &       Crisis 100
                                    Management

                           7        First Aid, Bomb detection & disposal & 100
                                    computer (Theory & Practical)


                                                                             Total 1100

Thus it is clear that the subjects and training are totally different between

category I and category II & III. Besides, both categories have separate

roles, duties and responsibilities and the same cannot be interchanged.

Further, each category maintains separate syllabus and final qualifying

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examinations. At the end of the training period, a final qualifying

examination is conducted for fixing their seniority.

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13. The seniority is governed by Rules 25(a) & 25(b) of the

TNPSS Rules. It is relevant to extract the above rules as follows :-

25(a):- The seniority of a person in any class or category of the service shall, unless he has been reduced to a lower rank as a punishment, be determined by the rank obtained by him in the list of approved candidates drawn up by the appointing authority, subject to the rule of reservation where it applies. The date of commencement of his probation shall be the date on which he joins duty irrespective of his seniority, unless he has been appointed temporarily under sub rule (d) of Rule 10 or sub rule (b) of Rule 15, as the case may be.

.................

Provided further that in the case of Sub Inspectors appointed by transfer from Sub Inspectors (Armed Reserve) in category 5, in class I of these Rules or by recruitment by transfer from Sub Inspectors in category 2 in rule 3 of the Tamil Nadu Special Police Subordinate Service Rules 1978, as the case may be, irrespective of their actual date of such appointment, seniority shall be fixed below the direct recruits in which they were recruited to their respective feeder categories.

25 (b):- The transfer of a person from one class or category of the services to another class or category carrying the same pay or scale of pay shall not be treated

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as first appointment to the latter for purpose of seniority, and the seniority of a person so transferred shall be determined with reference to the rank in the class or category from which he was transferred. Where any difficulty or doubt arises in applying this sub rule, seniority shall be determined by the appointing authority."

Thus it is clear that the seniority of the petitioners were arranged among

their batch mates based on their marks obtained in the final examination

conducted by the Police Training College as per the second proviso to

Rule 25(a) r/w 25(b) of the TNPSS Rules.

14. Further the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India by the judgment

dated 01.05.2025, struck down only the sixth proviso introduced by the

government order in G.O.Ms.No.868 Home(VI) Department dated

21.11.2017, which had altered inter-se seniority between open-market

quota and departmental quota. It is relevant to extract the directions issued

by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the case of R.Ranjith Singh &

ors Vs. The State of Tamil Nadu & ors in Civil Appeal Nos.6305-6306

of 2025 dated 01.05.2025, as follows:-

"28. xx xx xx

a) The respondents shall recast all gradation list issued from time to time in respect of direct recruitment

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which includes 20% in service candidates recruited directly to the post of Sub Inspector of Police by granting seniority on the basis of marks obtained in the qualifying examination/selection process. The exercise of recasting and issuance of revised gradation list be positively concluded within a period of 60 days from today.

b) The respondent State shall not revert any officer who has been given further promotion on the basis of the seniority list already issued by the Department from 1995; however, the respondent State shall not issue any promotion order in respect of departmental candidates till the revised seniority list is issued as aforesaid.

c) That, after issuance of revised seniority list, the State Government shall consider the cases of all departmental candidates for promotion to the next higher post keeping in view the promotions granted to the juniors (based upon the revised seniority list) and the exercise of granting promotions be concluded in respect of the direct recruitees (80%) quota within a period of two months from the date of issuance of revised seniority list.

d) The direct recruits, in case they are found fit for promotion to the next higher post will be entitled for notional promotion, fixation of seniority and all other consequential benefits except back wages on grant of promotion to the next higher post.

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e) The State Government shall hereinafter conduct one common examination for 100% direct recruitment for appointment to the post of Sub Inspector of Police which includes 80% from open market and 20% from in-service candidates and their seniority shall be assigned based upon the marks obtained by individual candidates/rank assigned by appointing authority in the list of selected candidates."

Therefore, the fundamental principle is that seniority of directly recruited

Sub Inspector of Police is to be determined by the marks obtained in the

police training college. Accordingly, now the respondents published the

draft seniority list and also invited objections, if any.

15. Insofar as the conversion from one category to another is

concerned, it is permitted only through specific government orders that too

as on one time measure. Such conversion is not a recruitment but a fresh

appointment into a different cadre and it cannot carry retrospective

seniority. They will be placed lower than the recruitees under open quota

as well as under the departmental quota on their same batch mates. In fact,

the government order in G.O.(Ms.)No.9 Home (Police III) Department,

dated 06.01.2020, permitted the petitioners for conversion on condition

that the seniority of the officer in new category shall commence only from

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the date of conversion and shall not relate back to the date of initial

appointment in the erstwhile category. Further the conversion was made

subject to eligibility, willingness and administrative convenience. Their

seniority in category I shall be reckoned only from the date of conversion.

16. That apart, only by way of government order as one time

measure, the petitioners were permitted for conversion to the category I.

After fulfilling the basic qualifications, they had undergone institutional

training for a period of six months and practical training for three months,

before they were posted under category I. Therefore, the judgment of the

Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the case of R.Ranjith Singh & ors Vs.

The State of Tamil Nadu & ors is not at all applicable to the case on

hand. Hence, the seniority of the petitioners after conversion to category I

is regulated as per the Rules made under Article 309 of the Constitution of

India. Therefore, their seniority has to be followed as per the Rule of

Seniority and accordingly at the time of conversion, they were rightly fixed

below recuritees under the departmental quota and direct recruitees under

open quota in the year 2011, in which they were recruited in their earlier

cadre.

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17. Further the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the case of

R.Ranjith Singh & ors Vs. The State of Tamil Nadu & ors deals with the

amendment to the Service Rules issued in respect of 20% department

candidates, whose seniority is fixed over and above the direct recruits in

the year, in which they were recruited into service in G.O.Ms.No.868

Home (Pol.6) Department, dated 21.11.2017. It was struck down and was

directed to issue fresh seniority list solely on the basis of the marks

obtained by the incumbents while recruited into service. Therefore, it has

got nothing to do with the persons who were recruited under category II &

III. Further, they were transferred to category I by conversion and as such

they do not carry their seniority to the transferred service. Further they

cannot question their option/preference after the lapse of 14 years from

their original appointment.

18. As stated supra, as per their option/preference and in

accordance with their marks scored in the written examination and as per

their reservation rotation, they were selected in the respective cadre.

Therefore, they are restrained from contending that they were wrongly

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posted in the category II & III as they were posted in their respective

categories only based on their marks and also their personal preferences.

In fact, only after their recruitment, the government passed order in

G.O.Ms. No.10 Home (Pol.3) Department dated 04.01.2012, that

preference of the candidates in recruitment of the Sub Inspector of Police

need not be sought from among the categories. Therefore, it cannot be

made applicable to the petitioners since, it was passed only after the

selection and appointment of the petitioners in their respective category.

19. That apart, the petitioners did not even challenge their

appointment in their respective category immediately after the government

order in G.O.Ms. No.10 Home (Pol.3) Department dated 04.01.2012.

Only as per the government order, now they are permitted to convert

themselves to category I that too after completion of training and other

classes. Therefore, they cannot question the promotion of their batch

mates to the post of Inspector of Police as per the order dated 01.07.2025

& 08.08.2025. This Court finds no infirmity or illegality in the impugned

orders and the seniority list dated 08.10.2025 and hence the Writ Petition

is devoid of merits and is liable to be dismissed.

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20. Accordingly, the Writ Petition stands dismissed.

Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. There shall

be no order as to costs.



                                                                                                     19.11.2025
                                                                                                         (½)

                     Index            : Yes/No
                     Neutral citation : Yes/No
                     Speaking/non-speaking order

                     rts







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                     To

                     1. The Secretary to Government,
                     State of Tamil Nadu,
                     Home Department,
                     Secretariat, Chennai – 600 009.

                     2. The Director General of Police,
                     Dr.Radhakrishnan Road,
                     Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004.







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                                                                    G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN. J,

                                                                                                rts




                                                                                 Order in
                                                                W.P.No.39119 of 2025 and
                                                         W.M.P.Nos.43896 & 43897 of 2025




                                                                                     19.11.2025
                                                                                         (½)







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