Criticising
top bureaucrats of Tamil Nadu for their failure to furnish data
relating to vacancies for disabled people in government departments, the
Madras high court on Tuesday began contempt proceedings against chief secretary Sheela Balakrishnan and two others.
As per statute, 3% of all available vacancies in government services are reserved for disabled people. While the court had passed necessary orders nearly two years ago, the issue gained importance after last month's apex court ruling directing all state governments to set apart 3% of all available vacancies for disabled persons.
Pointing out that several government departments and undertakings haven't furnished required details of backlog vacancies despite several directives, Justice S Manikumar said, "Non-furnishing of complete details, lack of response from the heads of departments and defective particulars only reflect that implementation of 3% reservation is delayed."
He added, "Although this court has repeatedly issued orders to identify the posts in different categories and, consequently, to fill up posts as expeditiously as possible, the process is on and on." Out of 140 heads of departments, only 70 have furnished the details, he said. "So far, 50 out of 102 government undertakings and boards have furnished the details. No clear details have been furnished by about 54 companies owned and controlled by the government," Justice Manikumar said.
He then said, "This court is constrained to issue contempt notices to Sheela Balakrishnan, chief secretary of Tamil Nadu, and head of monitoring committee for differently abled; P Sivasankaran, secretary of welfare of differently abled department; and Manivasan, commissioner for the differently abled, to explain as to why further course of action should not be taken under the Contempt of Courts Act. Registry is directed to issue necessary statutory notices to the above said persons."
However, after advocate general A L Somayaji requested the court to postpone the issuance of the statutory notice, which would require the personal appearance of the officers concerned, the judge said the officers could make necessary applications if they complied with directions of the high court and the Supreme Court.
Source : TOI , 12th Feb 2014
As per statute, 3% of all available vacancies in government services are reserved for disabled people. While the court had passed necessary orders nearly two years ago, the issue gained importance after last month's apex court ruling directing all state governments to set apart 3% of all available vacancies for disabled persons.
Pointing out that several government departments and undertakings haven't furnished required details of backlog vacancies despite several directives, Justice S Manikumar said, "Non-furnishing of complete details, lack of response from the heads of departments and defective particulars only reflect that implementation of 3% reservation is delayed."
He added, "Although this court has repeatedly issued orders to identify the posts in different categories and, consequently, to fill up posts as expeditiously as possible, the process is on and on." Out of 140 heads of departments, only 70 have furnished the details, he said. "So far, 50 out of 102 government undertakings and boards have furnished the details. No clear details have been furnished by about 54 companies owned and controlled by the government," Justice Manikumar said.
He then said, "This court is constrained to issue contempt notices to Sheela Balakrishnan, chief secretary of Tamil Nadu, and head of monitoring committee for differently abled; P Sivasankaran, secretary of welfare of differently abled department; and Manivasan, commissioner for the differently abled, to explain as to why further course of action should not be taken under the Contempt of Courts Act. Registry is directed to issue necessary statutory notices to the above said persons."
However, after advocate general A L Somayaji requested the court to postpone the issuance of the statutory notice, which would require the personal appearance of the officers concerned, the judge said the officers could make necessary applications if they complied with directions of the high court and the Supreme Court.
Source : TOI , 12th Feb 2014
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