HC passes interim order on petitions challenging TANGEDCO test

The Madras High Court has passed an interim order to TANGEDCO to do away with the written examination for recruitment to the post of Assistant Engineers.
Justice T S Sivagnanam had passed an interim order on about 40 petitions challenging the December 28, 2015 notification of TANGEDCO, requiring the petitioners to undergo the written examination for selection to the post of Assistant Engineers.
While modifying an earlier court order, which had prevented the TANGEDCO from publishing the results of the written examination, the judge directed it to publish the same.
However, the judge restrained it from proceeding with the selection process till the final orders.

The petitioners had submitted that in case some of the ex-apprentices of TANGEDCO, failed in the examination conducted by it, their right to contest the writ petitions should not be hindered.
They also contended that if results are published, the TANGEDCO should not be permitted to proceed with further selection process and fill up vacancies till the writ petitions are heard and disposed of.

In response, Advocate General AL Somayaji who appeared for TANGEDCO, submitted that the company will not proceed further with the selection process and would await final orders.
The AG further submitted that publication of results would in no manner prejudice the rights of the petitioners to contest the writ petitions on merits.

But, if a direction is issued to publish the results and if the candidates, who seek recruitment by appearing for the written examination, are found to have not cleared it, then they would be out of the zone of consideration and may not be required to be heard in the matters, he said.
Recording the submission of the Advocate General that the results will be published within a week's time, the judge posted the matter for further hearing on August 8.
On January 28, the Madras High Court had directed around 80 petitioners, who worked as apprentices in TANGEDCO to appear for the January 31 examination conducted by it for the post of Assistant Engineers, but had also ordered that the results be kept on hold till February 16.