The Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions on Wednesday (June 10, 2026) told the Madras High Court that the Tamil Nadu government had promoted seven Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers of the 1995 batch to the grade of Chief Secretary without the Centre’s approval.

Appearing before the first Division Bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) AR.L. Sundaresan said, the Centre would initiate necessary action with respect to the promotions given to the seven IAS officers without its approval.

The submissions were made just before the Bench dismissed a public interest litigation petition which had challenged a government order (G.O.) issued on December 24, 2025, for promoting the seven officers, including former Finance Secretary T. Udhayachandran, to the grade of Chief Secretary.

The ASG, representing the Union Ministry as well as the Cabinet Secretary, said: “The Government of Tamil Nadu had applied to the Government of India, but we had not granted the approval. Therefore, whatever action we have to take, we will be taking independently irrespective of the outcome of this PIL petition.”

The PIL plea had been filed by Chennai-based advocate M. Balakrishnan. When the judges wanted to know how a PIL petition could be entertained in a matter related to government service, the petitioner’s counsel replied that it could be entertained in exceptional cases such as the present one.

The counsel said, it had become a habit for the State government to promote IAS officers without the approval of the Centre though the rules applicable to All India Service require the State governments to do so only in consultation with the Centre since the promotions lead to payment of higher salary.

Not convinced with the arguments advanced by the counsel on the merits of the case instead of convincing the court on the maintainability of the plea, the judges said, a public interest litigation petition filed at the instance of a third party could not be entertained in a government service matter and that only the officers aggrieved because of the promotions could file a case if they wish to do so.

After taking on file a list of Supreme Court judgements, on the issue, submitted by Advocate General Vijay Narayan, the Chief Justice said that his Bench would pass a detailed order giving elaborate reasons for the dismissal of the PIL petition challenging the 2025 G.O.

The G.O. had been issued for promoting IAS officers M.A. Siddique, R. Jaya, P. Senthilkumar, Sandhya Venugopal Sharma, Mr. Udhayachandran, Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana and B. Chandra Mohan to the Chief Secretary grade of IAS with effect from January 1, 2026.

At the time of its issuance Mr. Siddique was serving as the Managing Director of Chennai Metro Rail Limited, Ms. Jaya was in the department of economics and statistics, Mr. Senthilkumar was the health secretary, Ms. Sharma was the chairperson of Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, Mr. Udhayachandran was the Finance Secretary, Mr. Makwana was on central deputation as the Surveyor General of India and Mr. Mohan was the School education secretary.

The G.O. accorded sanction for creation of temporary posts of Additional Chief Secretary in the departments of Economics and Statististics, Health and Family Welfare and School Education so that Ms. Jaya, Mr. Senthilkumar and Mr. Mohan could continue to occupy those positions at that point of time. It also stated Mr. Makwana shall stand promoted to Chief Secretary cadre without prejudice to his central deputation.