The death of a Deputy Tahsildar’s family in Tuticorin has triggered panic among members of Tamil Nadu Directly Recruited Revenue Officials Association. S. Sivagnanam (38), a Deputy Tahsildar holding the post of Superintendent of District Backward Class Welfare Office in the Collectorate, along with four of her family members were charred to death.
Since Ms. Sivagnanam, wife of V. Sivanantham alias Ananda Maharajan (38), was demoted to the cadre of Revenue Assistant, she was dejected and immolated herself at her residence in the Housing Board Colony, S. Dhanalingam, State president of the association, said at the Tuticorin Government Hospital on Saturday.
While Mr. Maharajan and his daughters Rishika (9) and Parameshwari alias Paramasri (7) attempted to save her, they also fell victims to the fire. The incident occurred on Friday night. The association members from various districts, who thronged the hospital, staged an agitation. It was unfortunate that even after the Supreme Court’s verdict on November 23, 2012 that granted stay against reverting the Directly Recruited Revenue Assistants, the district administration had forwarded the reversion order, which was signed by the Collector, ante-dated on November 18, 2012. The mental agony caused to her claimed the life of her family, said Mr. Dhanalingam, who sought a CB-CID inquiry into the incident.
As per the Government Order -133, she was preferentially promoted as a Deputy Tasildar in 2010 in Tuticorin. Ms. Sivagnanam qualified in the 2001 batch of Group - II Combined Subordinate Service Examination.
She got appointed in Tuticorin during 2004 as Revenue Assistant, Mr. Dhanalingam said. When contacted, Collector Ashish Kumar, who expressed shock over the death, said it was unfortunate and added that official duties had been executed as per procedures.
He denied any irregularity on the part of the district administration in connection with the incident.
Similar reversion orders to officials of such categories were issued in other districts also.
Owing to a family dispute, the incident might have occurred, he added. M. Ravichandran, Village Administrative Officer, Umarikottai and in-charge of Aiyanadaippu village, lodged a complaint with the Sipcot police about the family dispute, which might have led to the suicide. But, Elangovan, brother of Ms. Sivagnanam, preferred a complaint demanding action against those who caused her mental agony, which claimed the lives of four in the family.
