(Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the second respondent to enable the petitioners to upload/edit their applications for the post of Assistant Professor in Government Arts & Science Colleges and Government Colleges of Education pursuant to Notification No.04/2025 dated 16.10.2025, by considering the petitioners’ representations dated 15.11.2025, 19.11.2025, 25.11.2025, 28.11.2025 & 01.12.2025, within the period that may be stipulated by this Court.)

1. This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the second respondent to enable the petitioners herein to upload/edit their applications for the post of Assistant Professor in Government Arts & Science Colleges and Government Colleges of Education pursuant to Notification No.04/2025 dated 16.10.2025, by considering their representations dated 15.11.2025, 19.11.2025, 25.11.2025, 28.11.2025 & 01.12.2025 respectively, within a time frame as fixed by this Court.

2. Heard both sides. With the consent of both sides, the Writ Petition is taken up for hearing at the admission stage itself.

3. The case of the petitioners is that they are working as Assistant Professors in various colleges in the Department of Chemistry, Commerce, Physics and Statistics respectively. While so, the second 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 their respective subject post. However, due to technical error on the second respondent’s server, the petitioners are not able to upload their application through online. Therefore, their applications are at the stage of non-completion. In order to rectify the technical error, the petitioners made a representation dated 15.11.2025, 19.11.2025, 25.11.2025, 28.11.2025 & 01.12.2025 respectively, before the second respondent. However, no order was passed. Hence, the petitioners have come forward with the present Writ Petition.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioners would submit 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 Government Advocate as well as the learned Standing counsel appearing for the first and second respondent 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 petitioners 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 a representation to accept their application physically, however, the same was not entertained by the second respondent. Aggrieved by the inaction on the part of the second respondent, the petitioners have filed this writ petition.

8. As rightly pointed out by the learned counsel for the petitioners, 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. The case of the petitioners being similar in nature and they were not able to upload the application 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 second respondent and submit their applications physically, on or before 20.12.2025, by 12.00 pm. On such submission, the second respondent is directed to receive the aforesaid application of the petitioners and process the same.

10. With the aforesaid direction, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is also closed.

11. WMP.No.55656 of 2025 filed by the petitioners to permit them to file a single writ petition is allowed, subject to payment of separate court fee.