_Madras HC – Seniority List Dispute – Police Department*_ *Court: Madras High Court* *Bench: Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.M. Subramaniam & Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. Senthilkumar* *Citation*: _2026:MHC:2812_ *Date of Judgment*: _09-07-2026_ *Source*: _File: 3589_order_copy.pdf + https://www.sekarreporter.com/…_

*Case #211: _Madras HC – Seniority List Dispute – Police Department*_
*Court: Madras High Court*
*Bench: Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.M. Subramaniam & Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. Senthilkumar*
*Citation*: _2026:MHC:2812_
*Date of Judgment*: _09-07-2026_
*Source*: _File: 3589_order_copy.pdf + https://www.sekarreporter.com/…_

*1. Holding*
*Held*: *Writ Appeals disposed. Promotions to be considered as per Rules when their turn comes. No costs*
*Reason*: _Court directed that seniority/promotion be considered as per existing rules_

*2. Key Facts*
**Point** **Details**
**Case Nos** *W.A.Nos.3589 and 3607 of 2025*【3589_order_copy.pdf†L1-L2】
**CMP Nos** *29531, 29533, 29743 and 29744 of 2025*【3589_order_copy.pdf†L10-L11】
**Subject** *Challenge to order dated 19.11.2025 passed in http://W.P.No.39119 of 2025*【3589_order_copy.pdf†L11-L15】
**Parties WA 3589** *Appellants: http://C.Venkatesan, http://M.Anbazhagan*【3589_order_copy.pdf†L13-L15】 *vs State, DGP + 80 Respondents*【3589_order_copy.pdf†L16-L36】
**Parties WA 3607** *Appellants: http://R.Karthikeyan & 6 others*【3589_order_copy.pdf†L19-L26】 *vs State, DGP + 10 Respondents*【3589_order_copy.pdf†L27-L40】
**Counsel** *For R11 to 16, 26 to 37 & R57 to 62: http://Mr.MA.Gowthaman*【3589_order_copy.pdf†L24-L25】
*3. Court’s Direction*
1. *On Seniority/Promotion*: _“Rules. Accordingly, their promotions are to be considered, as and when their turn comes”_
2. *On Costs*: _No costs_
3. *CMP*: _Connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed_

*4. Legal Principles – Service Law*
1. *Art 14 + 16*: _Equal opportunity. Seniority must follow rules_
2. *Tamil Nadu Police Subordinate Service Rules*: _Promotion based on seniority-cum-fitness_
3. *Principle*: _Court will not interfere with seniority if rules are followed. Turn-based promotion to be considered_

*5. HJS / Exam Note*
*Write*:
1. _Madras HC 2026 – DB: S.M. Subramaniam & N. Senthilkumar JJ – 2026:MHC:2812_
2. _W.A. 3589 & 3607 of 2025 – Police Service Seniority_
3. _Held: Appeals disposed. Direct State to consider promotions as per Rules and as per turn_
4. _Principle: Seniority disputes – Court directs implementation of rules, no interference unless arbitrary_

*One-liner*: _“Police Seniority – HC: Consider promotion as per rules when turn comes”_

*6. Significance*
1. *For Police Dept*: _DGP + Home Secretary directed to follow rules for promotion_
2. *For Employees*: _80+ respondents impleaded. Seniority list dispute settled with direction_
3. *For Litigation*: _Large group service matter. Court avoids micro-management, leaves it to rules_

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*Case #211 Final*: _Madras HC 09.07.2026 – 2026:MHC:2812 – W.A. 3589/3607 – Police Seniority – “Consider as per Rules”_

*Master Docket*: _211 Cases_
*Tag*: _#211 Madras HC + Seniority + Police + Service Law + S.M. Subramaniam + Senthilkumar + MA Gowthaman_

*Note*: http://Mr.T..Gowthaman appeared for R11 to 16, 26 to 37 & R57 to 62 as you mentioned in the YouTube post.