MADURAI
With Madurai Corporation having expanded to 100 wards, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has suggested that the Corporation Commissioner seek permission from the government to increase its staff strength for proper management of its affairs.
The court was hearing the appeal filed by Madurai Corporation Sanitary Inspectors and Sanitary Officers Welfare Association. The association expressed grievance over a government order that made certain changes with regard to work assigned to sanitary inspectors.
Dismissing the appeal, a Division Bench of Justices T.S. Sivagnanam and R. Tharani observed that it would not be appropriate for the court to interfere with the internal administration of the corporation. If there was a government order, then the corporation would adhere to it.
However, the court said that the Corporation Commissioner could take up the issue with the government to increase the number of staff not only at the lower level but also at the higher level, that included Junior, Assistant and Executive Engineers.
In this regard, the court directed the corporation commissioner to undertake a staff rationalisation exercise and examine the need for additional posts for efficient administration of the affairs of the corporation. The court also asked the government to take into account the corporation’s growth and rise in population.
The court said that the directions given by the single bench with regard to administration of the corporation were appropriate. The court directed the corporation to strengthen the vigilance cell and issue directions to its officers to that effect.
The corporation should give wide publicity to the vigilance mechanism available and instal CCTV cameras at vantage points so that there was absolute transparency in the affairs of the corporation. The vigilance cell should be under the control of the Corporation Commissioner, who should deal with complaints received by the cell or any special officer nominated by him could do that, the court said.
The court added that the corporation should instal display boards at vantage points in various offices of the corporation exhibiting ‘Offering bribe is illegal’. A special team should also inspect ongoing building construction works to ascertain if there were any violations.
