[Cites 1, Cited by 0]
Madras High Court
A.Gowthami vs The Chairman on 25 February, 2026
Author: M.Dhandapani
Bench: M.Dhandapani
WP No. 7426 of 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 25-02-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI
WP No. 7426 of 2026
A.Gowthami
D/o. Arumugam,
No.57, Moolagoundan Palayam Colony,
Punjaithalavaipalayam,
Tiruppur-638 731
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The Chairman
TNPSC Road, VOC Nagar,
Park Town, Chennai-600 003
2. The Secretary
TNPSC Road, VOC Nagar,
Park Town, Chennai-600 003
3. The Controller of Examinations
TNPSC Road, VOC Nagar,
Park Town, Chennai-600 003
..Respondent(s)
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to
issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to consider the petitioner’s
representation dated 5.02.2026 and 13.02.2026 to permit the petitioner to write
the main examination to be held on 15.03.2026 conducted by the respondents
by paying the necessary application fees.
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WP No. 7426 of 2026
For Petitioner(s): Mr.S.Ambigapathi
For Respondent(s): Mr.B.Vijay
Standing Counsel
ORDER
This petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondents to
consider the petitioner’s representations dated 5.02.2026 and 13.02.2026 to
permit the petitioner to write the main examination to be held on 15.03.2026
conducted by the respondents, upon payment of the necessary application fees.
2.The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that, after completing
her Higher Secondary education and her undergraduate course in B.S.c
Mathematics with First Class as well as D.T.Ed, she prepared for the Group
examinations. On 15.07.2025, the respondents published the Combine Civil
Service Examination-II (Group II & IIA Services) notification vide Notification
No.11/2025. Based on the said notification, she applied for the examination
through online vide Application No.1250216112 by uploading the mandatory
documents and paying the necessary application fee of Rs.100/- for the
Preliminary Examination only. The petitioner appeared for the Preliminary
Examination conducted on 28.09.2025, in which she was declared successful.
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Thereafter, the respondent fixed the last date for payment of the fee for the
main examination from 23.12.2012 to 29.12.2025. However, for various
reasons, the period for submission of applications was extended from
30.12.2025 to 02.01.2026 and the date of the main examination was fixed as
08.02.2026, which was later extended to 15.03.2026. However, the time for
payment of fee was not extended subsequently. As a result, the petitioner and
274 other similarly placed candidates were deprived of the opportunity to
participate in the main examination due to the non-extension of the fee
payment deadline. Though the respondent rescheduled the main examination
from 08.02.2026 to 15.03.2026, the time for payment of fees was not extended.
As a result, the petitioner and 274 other similarly placed candidates were
deprived of the opportunity to participate in the main examination. Therefore,
considering the matter sympathetically, this Court may be pleased to permit the
petitioner and other similarly placed candidates to pay the Main Examination
fee by fixing an outer time limit. Accordingly, he prayed for appropriate
orders.
3.Per contra, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents
vehemently contended that the responsibility for payment of the fee for the
Main examination rests solely with the candidates. The candidates will be held
responsible as per the para 2-T.1(ii) and 4 of the instructions to Applicants. The
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Main Examination fee shall be paid by the candidates who have not claimed
exemption, if they are shortlisted for the Main Examination based on the results
of Preliminary Examination and on receipt of such intimation from Tamil Nadu
Public Service Commission. . Failure to pay the prescribed Examination fee
along with the online application would result in rejection of the application
after due process, in terms of para.2.T.4 and the Main examination fee of
Rs.150/- (Rupees One Hundred and Fifty only) has to be paid by the candidates
who have not claimed fee exemption. The learned counsel further submitted
that, though initially 766 candidates, including the petitioner, had not paid the
fee on time, again they were granted further time from 30.12.2025 to
02.01.2026 to pay the Main Written Examination fee. Out of the 766
candidates, 492 candidates availed themselves of the opportunity by paying the
fee. However, 274 candidates, including the petitioner, failed to pay the fee.
Even though a second opportunity was granted, the petitioner and the other
candidates did not avail themselves of the same, and such failure cannot be
attributed as a fault on the part of the respondents. Further, it was submitted that
the Main Examination was scheduled to be held on 15.03.2026 and that all
necessary arrangements had already been made by the respondents. Hence,
there was no possibility of extending the time for payment of the examination
fee. Accordingly, he prayed for dismissal of the writ petition.
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4.Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the
materials available on record.
5.The facts of the present case are not dispute. The participation of the
petitioner in the Preliminary Examination pursuant to the notification is also
undisputed. It is equally undisputed that the petitioner cleared the Preliminary
Examination and was required to participate in the Main Examination. In the
present case, admittedly, the original date of the Main examination was fixed as
08.02.2026. However, for various reasons, the examination was not conducted
on that date and was subsequently rescheduled to 15.03.2026. It is also an
undisputed fact that the time for payment of the Main Examination fee was
initially fixed from 23.12.2025 to 29.12.2025. Thereafter, the said period was
extended from 30.12.2025 to 02.01.2026, and the Main examination was
scheduled to be held on 08.02.2026. Admittedly, the respondents again
rescheduled the examination to 15.03.2026 without extending the time for
payment of the fee. Mere non-payment of fee, in the peculiar facts and
circumstances of the case, should not deprive the candidates of the opportunity
to participate in the Main Examination. Hence, this Court, in exercise of its
power under Article 226 of Constitution of India, is inclined to issue a direction
to the respondents, as a one-time measure, taking into consideration of the
future prospects of the 274 candidates, including the petitioner, to extend the
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time for payment of the Main Examination fee till 05.03.2026 and to issue wide
publicity informing the said 274 candidates, including the petitioner, that they
are permitted to pay the fee within the extended time.
6.With the above direction, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No
costs.
25-02-2026
Index: Yes/No
Speaking/Non-speaking order
Neutral Citation: Yes/No
UMA
Note: Issue order copy on 26.02.2026
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To
1. The Chairman
TNPSC Road, VOC Nagar,
Park Town, Chennai-600 003
2. The Secretary
TNPSC Road, VOC Nagar,
Park Town, Chennai-600 003
3. The Controller of Examinations
TNPSC Road, VOC Nagar,
Park Town, Chennai-600 003
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M.DHANDAPANI, J.
UMA
25-02-2026
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