Madras High Court Cancels Selection of 245 Civil Judges Over Reservation Violations; Orders Revised Selection Process
Last Updated on March 4, 2024 by News Desk
The Madras high court has cancelled the selection of 245 civil judges for the state judicial service, citing violations of reservation and roster rules. The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) failed to implement reservation in the recruitment as contemplated under Section 27(f) of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants (Conditions of Service) Act, 2016.
The court directed TNPSC to prepare a revised provisional select list by accommodating the top-ranked candidates on the merit list under the general category and then accommodating the candidates against the carried-forward vacancies as per the quota notified for backlog vacancies. The remaining candidates should be placed against the current vacancies by adopting the rule of reservation.
The court passed the order while allowing a batch of pleas moved by a group of candidates alleging violation of rules in implementing reservations. The petitioners claimed that the procedures adopted for filling backlog vacancies and current vacancies were erroneous and in direct violation of legal principles settled by the Supreme Court and Madras High Court.
The court reiterated that meritorious candidates and toppers are to be placed under the general category, as the legal principles are settled in this regard. Toppers, in the order of merit ranking, cannot be placed in the reserved category merely in the sphere of filling backlog vacancies.
