Facts
The petitioner sought a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to consider his application bearing Registration No. 32117999, submitted on 02 November 2024, for recruitment to the posts of “Packers” and “Salesman” in the Tamil Nadu Ration Shops recruitment process, and to permit him to participate in the interview and selection process on merits.
Source reference: p.1; para. 1He also sought publication of the merit list and equal opportunity in the selection process.
Source reference: p.1; para. 1During the hearing, the respondents submitted that the selection process had already concluded, and this factual position was not seriously disputed by the petitioner.
Source reference: p.2; para. 3Issues
Whether the petitioner could be granted a writ of mandamus directing consideration of his application and permitting him to participate in the recruitment process when the selection process had already concluded.
Source reference: p.2; paras. 1, 3Whether any effective relief survived in the writ petition after completion of the recruitment selection process.
Source reference: p.2; para. 4Law Applied
The Court exercised its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India concerning the issuance of a writ of mandamus.
Source reference: p.1; p.2, paras. 1–4A writ petition becomes infructuous when the relief sought can no longer be effectively granted because the relevant process or event has already been completed.
Source reference: p.1; p.2, paras. 1–4The Court applied this principle without relying on any specific statutory provision or judicial precedent.
Source reference: p.1; p.2, paras. 1–4Reasoning
The relief sought was dependent upon the petitioner’s participation in an ongoing recruitment process, including consideration of his application, interview, and preparation of the merit list.
Source reference: p.2; paras. 3–4Since the Government Advocate stated that the selection process had already been completed, and the petitioner did not seriously dispute that position, the Court found that the requested directions could no longer operate effectively.
Source reference: p.2; paras. 3–4Consequently, no live controversy or enforceable relief remained for adjudication, rendering the writ petition infructuous.
Source reference: p.2; paras. 3–4Holding
The Court accepted the respondents’ submission that the recruitment selection process had concluded and held that nothing survived for consideration in the writ petition.
The writ petition was accordingly dismissed as infructuous, with no order as to costs.
Source reference: p.2; para. 4Original Court PDF
R.NARESH KUMARvsTHE SECRETARY
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