Officials flayed for "callous attitude"

They should not lose sight that every penny paid is from the common man’s pocket: Judge

The Madras High Court Bench here has come down heavily upon government officials for making the common man run from pillar to post even for availing basic services such as ‘patta’ (land ownership document) transfer, community certificates, income certificates, ration cards, old age pension, building plan approvals and drinking water connections.

Justice R. Mahadevan said: “It is high time the government evolved a policy to make all government servants perform their duty in a time-bound manner. Or else, this court will have to deal with such type of cases for eternity. Unless, the government fixes the responsibility on the individual officer concerned… it may be very difficult for the common man to get things done.”

Employment sought

Allowing a writ petition filed by an individual who had been seeking employment on compassionate grounds since his father’s death way back in 1979, the judge said that government servants “should not lose sight of the fact that every penny paid to them is from the common man’s pocket. In fact, it is better to call them as people’s servants rather than government servants.”

Mr. Justice Mahadevan went on to state: “The callous attitude of the government officials in processing the case of the petitioner is alarming. When an application is made in the form of a request, it is obligatory on the part of the government officials to treat the matter with utmost care besides making every effort to redress the grievance immediately.”

He pointed out that the petitioner’s mother had made an application seeking compassionate employment in 1979 itself.

However, her request was rejected on the ground that she was not entitled to the benefit since her husband’s services had not been regularised during his lifetime.

After a long ordeal, the services were regularised only on April 13, 2009.

Meanwhile, the petitioner, G. Karthikeyan, also staked claim for employment on compassionate grounds after attaining majority.

Plea rejected

But his plea was also rejected on the ground that it was not made within the three years of the death of his father and hence the present writ petition.