Pointing out that authorities cannot keep a matter pending indefinitely under the guise of taking policy decision, the Madras High Court has cautioned them that it would issue statutory notice for contempt if they failed to comply with its order in a case.
A Division Bench comprising Justices R. Banumathi and K.K. Sasidharan passed the order on a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Computer Science B.Ed. Graduate Teachers Welfare Society seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the authorities concerned in a matter relating to the filling up of vacancies in the post of Computer Instructor through the Teachers Recruitment Board. It posted the matter for August 2 for reporting compliance of its order.
Earlier, the court had directed the Additional Advocate-General (AAG) to file a report indicating the steps taken to comply with the directions of the court which had been upheld by the Supreme Court. In a report, it was indicated that the government was now seized of the matter and a decision would be taken with regard to the mode to fill up 652 vacancies.
The society’s counsel said the government was now supporting the case of Computer Instructors who had failed in the competitive tests on two occasions. The government was permitting the instructors to continue indefinitely without taking earnest efforts to fill up the vacant posts. Hence, contempt proceedings should be initiated.
The AAG said the State was making every possible effort to fill up the vacancies. However, before commencing the selection process, a policy decision required to be taken. The Bench observed that the State failed to take any action so far to conduct regular recruitment thereby giving indulgence to the failed computer instructors to continue to work to the detriment of thousands of instructors who were seeking employment.
