01Facts
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.
p. 1 · ¶ 1He also sought publication of the merit list and equal opportunity in the selection process.
p. 1 · ¶ 1During the hearing, the respondents submitted that the selection process had already concluded, and this factual position was not seriously disputed by the petitioner.
p. 2 · ¶ 302Issues
i.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.
p. 2 · ¶ 1, 3ii.Whether any effective relief survived in the writ petition after completion of the recruitment selection process.
p. 2 · ¶ 403Law Applied
The Court exercised its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India concerning the issuance of a writ of mandamus.
p. 1 · p. 2 · ¶ 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.
p. 1 · p. 2 · ¶ 1–4The Court applied this principle without relying on any specific statutory provision or judicial precedent.
p. 1 · p. 2 · ¶ 1–404Reasoning
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.
p. 2 · ¶ 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.
p. 2 · ¶ 3–4Consequently, no live controversy or enforceable relief remained for adjudication, rendering the writ petition infructuous.
p. 2 · ¶ 3–405Holding
The Court accepted the respondents’ submission that the recruitment selection process had concluded and held that nothing survived for consideration in the writ petition.
p. 2 · ¶ 4The writ petition was accordingly dismissed as infructuous, with no order as to costs.
p. 2 · ¶ 4Original Court PDF
R.NARESH KUMARvsTHE SECRETARY
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