The Director Must Consider Seniority Objections on Merits Before Finalising the Inter-Se Seniority List.

The petitioners, electrical Junior Engineers and Assistant Engineers employed by the Greater Chennai Corporation, sought inclusion in the inter-se seniority list for promotion to Assistant Executive Engineer.

They contended that, although the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies (Amendment) Act, 2022 provided for a unified cadre and promotion system, the Corporation’s electrical employees had been omitted from the provisional list prepared for promotion.

The petitioners had submitted objections and representations seeking inclusion; the respondents’ counsel stated that the representations would be considered before the list was finalised.

The order refers to the earlier representations as dated 20.08.2026 and 28.06.2026, although the preceding account refers to a representation dated 27.08.2026.

Whether the Court should direct the respondents to include the petitioners in the inter-se seniority list for promotion to Assistant Executive Engineer.

Whether the respondents should be directed to consider the petitioners’ representations before finalising that list.

The petition was brought under Article 226 of the Constitution, invoking the High Court’s writ jurisdiction.

The petitioners relied on the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act 35 of 2022), said to provide for a unified cadre and transfer and promotion system for Urban Local Body employees.

The Court did not interpret or apply the Act to decide the petitioners’ entitlement to inclusion, and cited no precedent; it disposed of the matter without going into its merits.

The Court did not determine whether the petitioners were legally entitled to be included in the seniority list.

Instead, it took account of the respondents’ undertaking that the representations would be considered and the petitioners’ request to submit a fresh representation.

To secure consideration before the list was finalised, the Court permitted a fresh representation and directed the second respondent to decide it along with the earlier representations on their merits and in accordance with law.

It permitted the petitioners to submit a fresh representation to the second respondent within one week and directed that respondent to consider it together with the earlier representations and pass appropriate orders on the merits and in accordance with law before finalising the inter-se seniority list.

No costs were awarded.