RTI Impact: Madras High Court orders enquiry into appointments
20 Sep, 2013A hearing and speech impaired resident of Madurai, K Ganesan, had applied for the post of watchman in Government schools and was rejected for the same. He was called for an interview by the District Educational Officer (DEO) in Melur at Madurai under the Scheduled Caste category. He later filed an application under the RTI Act and based on the documents obtained, he claimed before the High Court that the appointments were made on the basis of recommendations from politicians. The court has asked the Additional Advocate General K Chellapandian to file the counter affidavit and also ordered notice to the petitioner.
Justice S Nagamuthu of the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has further directed the Tamilnadu state government Principal Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj to conduct an inquiry into the appointments made in the schools for the posts of watchmen and sweepers. The High Court directed C V Shankar, Principal Secretary to the State Government, to complete the inquiry and submit a report within four weeks.
Ganeshan has claimed that the appointments did not adhere to the procedures listed by the Constitution for the public employment and has requested the court to quash them. He has alleged that only 12 candidates were selected on merit basis out of 25. Out of the total posts, 3 per cent were reserved for physically handicapped.