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Madras High Court· 20 July 2026

Does temporary appointment under Rule 16(e)(i) of the Tamil Nadu Judicial Ministerial Service Rules confer a right to permanent absorption?

Typist, Subordinate Court, Mannargudi, Thiruvarur District, Pincode-614001 v. 1. The Registrar General,
WP No. 20836 of 2026 · WP No. 20836 of 2026
Coram: Justice S.M.Subramaniam · Justice And N.Senthilkumar
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Answer

No. Rule 16(e)(i) expressly provides that a person appointed under it shall not be regarded as a probationer and is not entitled by reason only of such appointment to any preferential claim to future appointment; having accepted these terms, the employee cannot claim regularisation without undergoing the regular recruitment process.

Headnote

Constitution of India, 1950 — Art. 226 — Art. 14 — Art. 16 — Tamil Nadu Judicial Ministerial Service Rules — Rule 16(e)(i) — Regularisation — Temporary appointment against non-sanctioned post — Constitution of India, 1950 — Art. 226 — Judicial review — Limits on power to direct regularisation — Held: A writ court exercising judicial review under Article 226 cannot direct an employer to regularise a temporary employee's service in violation of the recruitment rules in force, such a direction falling beyond the realm of judicial review. (¶17) Tamil Nadu Judicial Ministerial Service Rules — Rule 16(e)(i) — Temporary appointment — No preferential claim to future appointment — Held further: An appointment made under Rule 16(e)(i) confers no probationer status and no preferential claim to future appointment, and having accepted these terms the employee cannot turn around and claim permanency without undergoing the regular recruitment process. (¶8, 16) Constitution of India, 1950 — Art. 14 — Art. 16 — Equal opportunity — Sanctioned vacant posts through open competitive process — Held further: Regularisation, absorption or permanent continuance cannot be directed unless the employee was appointed pursuant to a regular recruitment in an open competitive process against sanctioned vacant posts, since back-door appointments dilute the equality clause and constitute a constitutional sin. (¶10, 18, 19) Tamil Nadu Judicial Ministerial Service Rules — Rule 16(e)(i) — Non-sanctioned post — Direction for regular recruitment with participation opportunity — Held further: Temporary appointments cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely so as to generate expectations of regularisation; the Judicial Department must undertake regular recruitment on an annual basis to fill sanctioned posts, and the petitioner shall be permitted to participate in such recruitment, with age relaxation if necessary, without dispensing with educational and essential qualifications. Writ petition disposed of, with no order as to costs. (¶24, 25, 26)

In the Court's own words
Paragraph 8The respective learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents would strenuously contend that the petitioner was appointed purely on a temporary basis by invoking Rule 16(e)(i) of the Tamil Nadu Judicial Ministerial Service Rules. The Rule unambiguously stipulates that a person appointed under the said Rule shall not be regarded as a probationer or be entitled by reason only of such appointment to any preferential claim to future appointment, the services of such a person in the post shall be liable to be terminated by the appointing authority at any time and without notice and without any reason being assigned. Therefore, accepting the said terms and conditions of the Tamil Nadu Judicial Ministerial Service Rules, served in the District Judiciary purely on temporary basis in non-sanctioned posts and was not appointed under the regular recruitment rules in sanctioned posts. Therefore, he cannot claim regularisation or permanent absorption in violation of the Service Rules applicable to the regular employees appointed in sanctioned posts. In support of their contention, they would rely on a Division Bench judgment of Madurai Bench of this Court in E.Jailatha @ Sivagami in WP (MD) Nos.7134 to 7148 of 2025 etc., batch, dated 17.06.2025. The said judgment squarely applies to the facts of the present case and thus, the writ petition is liable to be rejected.
Paragraph 16In the present case, the writ petitioner accepted the terms and conditions of his temporary appointment, which was made under Rule 16(e)(i) of the Tamil Nadu Judicial Ministerial Service Rules and served in the Judicial Department. Therefore, now he cannot turn around and claim permanent appointment / regularisation without undergoing the regular recruitment process in accordance with the Service Rules.
Paragraph 19Therefore, mere temporary appointments made under a specific service rules, Rule 16(e)(i) of the Tamil Nadu Judicial Ministerial Service Rules, would not confer any right to claim permanent absorption / regularisation. Having accepted the terms and conditions of temporary service, the writ petitioner cannot turn around and claim permanency, without undergoing the regular process of selection in order to provide equal opportunity to all the eligible candidates, aspiring and longing to secure public employments.
Acts & Sections
Article 226 of the Constitution of IndiaArticle 14 of the Constitution of IndiaArticle 16 of the Constitution of IndiaRule 16(e)(i) of the Tamil Nadu Judicial Ministerial Service Rules

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Also decided in this judgment
Can a writ court direct regularisation of a temporary employee under Article 226 despite non-compliance with recruitment rules?Can regularisation be granted where the employee was not appointed through open competitive selection against sanctioned vacant posts?
Plain-language answer prepared by the LexStreak Editorial Desk — verify against the judgment. Source: Madras High Court. Corrections