Madras HC directs TN Uniformed Services Board to publish final SI, Fire Officer selection list

chennai: the madras high court has directed the tamil nadu uniformed services selection board to publish the final selection list for 621 police sub inspector and 129 fire station officer vacancies within a month.the recruitment process for these posts began in may 2023, with the board issuing notifications and conducting written, physical fitness, and interview tests. a provisional selection list was released in january 2024, but several unsuccessful candidates, including mohammed aslam, approached the court alleging irregularities in reservation procedures.following these claims, the tamil nadu government assured the court that a revised selection list would be published. subsequently, a revised provisional list was released on october 3, 2024. however, over 100 candidates challenged this list, arguing that many originally included names were removed and that the list lacked details on marks and reservation.the court-appointed retired chief justice n. balvasanthakumar to prepare a new selection list following proper reservation procedures. while the tamil nadu uniformed staff selection board appealed against this, seeking cancellation and a fresh selection process, a bench comprising justices r. suresh kumar and hemant chandan gawder dismissed the appeal.the court observed that the list prepared by retired chief justice balvasanthakumar adhered to reservation rules, supreme court judgments, and tamil nadu's preference for candidates educated in tamil. it instructed the board to publish the final selection list within 30 days.