Expressing doubts whether the selection of 4,362 lab assistants in various schools by Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission was being made on merit, the Madras High Court has directed the government to file a counter.
When a petition by P. Sathish of Kancheepuram came up for hearing, Justice D. Hariparanthaman perused the notification made by TNPSC on April 22 and said, “If the marks obtained in the written examination is not taken into account, I am of the prima facie view that selection could not be based on merit.”
The Additional Government Pleader contended that the post of lab assistant carried the scale of pay as that of a Junior Assistant and the recruitment for Junior Assistant by TNPSC did not include an interview.
The judge pointed out that the written exam for the recruitment for lab assistants was held last week and according to a G.O., priority in appointment could be given only in the case of recruitment through Employment Exchange and not for recruitment through open competition.
“In case of open competition, reservation should be strictly based on statutory rules,” he said and posted the matter for further hearing on June 8.
The petitioner, also a candidate, who had applied for the post of lab assistant, had alleged that there were serious discrepancies in the notification made by the Directorate of School Education on April 22 .
He submitted that the notification stated that selection would be made following priority and non-priority category and the recruitment process had a screening test and an interview. The Chief Education Officer of respective districts would conduct the interview, in which marks for various categories would be given.
Contending that there were serious discrepancies in the notification, the petitioner sought for a direction to quash the notification and further direct respondents to adopt the process of selection in consonance with Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India and as per the procedure established in law.
