The Division bench of Justices M. Venugopal and Abdul Quddhose hearing a petition seeking action be taken against illegal appointments of Office Assistants directed notice to the Department of Employment and Training and the Government Industrial Training Institute, Chennai.
The petitioner, P. Ganeshan of Sivaganga said that illegal appointments were made in the Department of Employment and Training, Chennai. For the appointments to the post of office assistants first the cadre strength should be ascertained, which was not followed.
However, the Directorate of Employment and Training instructed all the subordinate offices to fill the vacant posts and 142 posts were notified as vacant, which was in excess of cadre strength. The Right To Information petition filed was not addressed properly by the authorities, said the petitioner.
The Staff Committee approval is mandatory for the appointments, but the procedure was not followed while calling for filling the posts. Favouritism was being shown in the appointments of office assistants. Bribes were taken for the appointments in the employment and training department, the petitioner alleged.
He said he was previously an employee of the Department of Employment and Training. His wife, who is currently employed in the department, is being unnecessarily transferred as a result of the RTI petition filed by him. Though complaints were made to the Secretary, Labour and Employment and the Commissioner, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, except for an oral enquiry, no action was taken, said the petitioner.
