Madurai Collector S. Nagarajan was transferred on Tuesday and posted as Director of Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Institute in Chennai.
Only on Monday night he had cleared the appointments of more than 1,500 persons in anganwadi centres across the district.
Though interviews for the posts were completed in September 2017, the appointments were kept pending due to alleged political interference.
The appointments were made on Monday strictly following the eligibility criteria with the involvement of a few officials under the direct supervision of Mr. Nagarajan, but discreetly, sources at the Collectorate said. The appointment orders were handed over to the individuals at night and all of them reported to duty on Tuesday morning. However, a group of around 30 applicants, who were not appointed, protested in front of Collector’s chamber on Tuesday afternoon. Women alleged that the deserving candidates were denied jobs. M. Gayathri, a widow from Melur, alleged that only those who bribed politicians were offered the job.
Mr. Nagarajan, who secured first rank in the civil services exam in 2005, previously served as an Additional Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare Department.
He was transferred to Madurai as the Collector and District Election Officer in the last week of April, following a breach of security protocol at the counting centre for parliamentary elections in Madurai. The incident necessitated the transfer of then Collector S. Natarajan.
Though it was rumoured that the transfer of Mr. Nagarajan was anticipated as he was primarily posted to Madurai to complete the elections smoothly, the sudden transfer on Tuesday could not be seen as not linked to the appointment of anganwadi workers, highly placed sources in the Collectorate said.
S. Santha Kumar, Assistant Commissioner in Excise Department, who was handling the vacant post of District Revenue Officer of Madurai as incharge, has been assigned as Collector (incharge) till a new appointment is made.
Mr. Nagarajan refused to comment on the appointment of anganwadi workers or his transfer.
