(Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the third respondent to permit the petitioners 1 to 4 to submit their respective applications directly to the third respondent in person and further direct the third respondent to processes the applications of the petitioners.)

1. This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the third respondent to permit the petitioners to submit their applications directly to the third respondent in person and further, direct the third respondent to processes the applications of the petitioners.

2.Though this writ petition was listed yesterday and this Court had dismissed the matter, however, before the order could be typed and signed, mention was made by the learned counsel pointing out that this Court had granted relief in similar writ petitions in W.P.No.48801 of 2025, etc., and therefore, similar relief was sought for in this writ petition as well and submitted that similar order may be passed so as to enable the petitioners to have the same benefit on the ground that this would be the last opportunity for the petitioners to seek for public employment, as the petitioners has crossed the age threshold. In such view of the matter, the learned counsel for the respondent was put on notice and thereafter, the matter is heard afresh and the present order is passed.

3. The case of the petitioners is that they possess prescribed qualifications and are working as Assistant Professors and Guest Lecturer in various colleges in the Department of Economics, Tamil and Physics respectively. While so, the third respondent issued a recruitment notification No.4/2025 dated 16.10.2025 for appointment to the post of Assistant Professors in Tamil Nadu Collegiate Educational Service for Government Arts and Science Colleges and Government Colleges of Education, to the total vacancies of 2709 in various posts. Being the eligible candidates, the petitioners made applications to the post in their respective subject. However, due to technical error on the third respondent’s server, the petitioners are not able to upload their applications through online. Therefore, their applications are at the stage of non-completion. In order to rectify the technical error, the petitioners made request in person to the third respondent. However, no order was passed. Hence, the petitioners have come forward with the present Writ Petition.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioners added that for the very same issue, a batch of writ petition was filed before the Madurai Bench of this Court in W.P (MD) Nos.35206 of 2025 and etc., batch and the Madurai Bench of this Court, vide order dated 10.12.2025, directed the petitioners therein to submit their applications in person before the third respondent, on or before 11.12.2025, at 05.00 pm. Accordingly, he prays for similar relief to the petitioners herein.

5. Per contra, learned Additional Government Pleader as well as the learned Standing counsel appearing for the respondents 1 to 3 respectively submitted that though the respondents have not preferred an appeal against the order passed by the Madurai Bench of this Court in W.P (MD) Nos.35206 of 2025 and etc., batch, the issuance of hall tickets and other procedures were already completed on 11.12.2025 and the examination date was also fixed on 27.12.2025. They vehemently opposed the contentions put forth by the learned counsel for the petitioner and accordingly, prayed for dismissal of this Writ Petition.

6. I have considered the rival submissions made by the respective learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.

7. The facts of the case is not in dispute. Due to technical error, the petitioners are not able to upload their applications through online. Thereby, they made request to accept their applications through online as well as physically, however, the same were not entertained by the third respondent. Aggrieved by the inaction on the part of the third respondent, the petitioners have filed this writ petition.

8. As rightly pointed out by the learned counsel for the petitioner, in an identical issue, this Court in W.P (MD) Nos.35206 of 2025 and etc., batch, the Madurai Bench of this Court, vide order dated 10.12.2025, had directed the petitioners therein to submit their application either through online or physical mode, on or before 11.12.2025. It is also brought to the notice of this Court that this Court had also granted the similar relief in W.P.No.48801 of 2025 etc. The case of the petitioners herein being similar in nature and they are not able to upload the applications for no fault of theirs, they are also entitled to the similar relief.

9. In view of the above, the petitioners are directed to appear in person before the third respondent and submit their application physically, on or before 20.12.2025, by 12.00 pm. On such submission, the third respondent is directed to receive the aforesaid application of the petitioner and process the same.

10. With the aforesaid direction, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. There shall be no orders as to costs.

11. WMP.No.55444 of 2025 filed by the petitioners to permit them to join together to file a single writ petition is allowed subject to payment of separate court fee.