Candidates who discontinue a degree before completion are assessed on their 12th-standard qualification.

The petitioner’s candidature for recruitment under Notification No. 72/2025 was rejected under the category “Possessing Higher Educational Qualification.”

He held a Higher Secondary (+2) qualification and had joined a B.A. English course in August 2022, but discontinued it in January 2024 without completing it.

He challenged the rejection under Article 226, contending that he neither possessed nor was pursuing a higher qualification when he applied.

The respondents relied on the Madurai Bench’s earlier decision in W.P.(MD) No. 20293 of 2026 and connected cases, dated 10 September 2026.

Whether a candidate who joined a degree course but discontinued it before completion should be treated as possessing only a 12th-standard qualification for the recruitment process.

Whether the petitioner’s candidature could be considered on that basis without documentary proof of discontinuance and transfer from the course.

The Court applied the principles laid down in W.P.(MD) No. 20293 of 2026 and connected cases, dated 10 September 2026.

Under that decision, candidates who joined a degree course but discontinued it before completion are to have their maximum qualification treated as 12th-standard pass; candidates in other categories are assessed under the applicable notification provisions.

The Court also required documentary substantiation: discontinuance alone is insufficient, and the candidate must produce the relevant course-discontinuation and transfer certificates to establish that the maximum qualification is +2.

The petitioner had discontinued his B.A. English course before completing it and stated that he had not pursued another higher course.

The Court therefore placed him within the category identified in paragraph 45(i) of the earlier decision: a candidate who joined a degree course but discontinued it before completion.

His earlier enrolment did not, by itself, establish that he possessed a higher qualification or was pursuing the course on the relevant dates.

However, his claim that his maximum qualification was +2 remained subject to verification through the required discontinuation and transfer certificates.

The respondents must determine the petitioner’s eligibility by applying those directions and considering the documents he submits; the Court did not grant unconditional permission to participate in subsequent selection stages.

No costs were ordered, and the connected miscellaneous petition was closed.