MADURAI
Taking cognisance of large-scale irregularities at Public Works Department offices in Nagercoil and Palayamkottai, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Principal Secretary, PWD, to refer the matter to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption.
Justice S.M. Subramaniam also directed the Principal Secretary to conduct an inquiry to check if officials were continuing in the same posts in the same offices for a long time. The entire exercise should be completed within a period of four weeks, the court said.
The HC Bench was hearing a petition filed by K.V. Dhanaraj of Nagercoil, who sought a direction to the PWD to allot him government quarters. However, during the course of the hearing, the court took cognisance of the fact that there were irregularities in PWD offices and allegations against the petitioner as well.
The petitioner had joined the PWD as Assistant Engineer in 1986 and was now working as Assistant Executive Engineer in Nagercoil. The State submitted that the petitioner had illegally occupied the quarters and had not paid rent. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner had vacated the quarters.
The court observed that in the absence of any allotment order by the competent authority, no government official could occupy government accommodation at his own choice or continue in the quarters without paying rent.
After coming to know that some officials in the ranks of Junior Assistant, Assistant, Superintendent, Assistant Executive Engineer and Executive Engineer were working in the same offices for over 20 years, the court wondered how effective and efficient administration could be maintained if this was the case.
The court rejected the plea of the petitioner and directed authorities concerned to recover the penal rent as per the rules in force.
