HC summons Principal Secy, Industries dept to appear before it

The Madras High Court bench today summoned C V Shankar, Principal Secretary of the Industries Department, to appear in court over a case challenging the appointments for posts of watchmen and sweepers in government schools here, allegedly at the behest of politicians.
On September 17, 2013, the Court had appointed Shankar, the then Principal Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, to conduct an inquiry on appointments made for the posts on the recommendations by MLAs and Co-operative Minister Sellur K Raju and to submit a report.
After a year-long inquiry, he submitted the report to Justice S Nagamuthu who rejected it, stating that the IAS officer had not examined the politicians who allegedly gave recommendation letters, and the beneficiaries.

The Judge also stated that since the matter is very serious, the court had originally wanted it to be probed by a police officer. Instead, the state had submitted it was ready to inquire into the issue by appointing an IAS officer and recommended Shankar's name. The Court also accepted it, having hope on the government stand, the Judge added.
The Judge also expressed anguish that the report was also silent on the subject of tampering of original records. Hence he directed the state to submit the entire records pertaining to the case.
When the case came up for hearing toay, Additional Advocate General K Chellapandian submitted he had received a letter from the Secretary of Higher Education Department to seek adjournment in order to engage the Advocate General.

Rejecting this, Justice Nagamuthu said "if the Secretary of Higher Education Department wants to engage the Advocate General, it is up to her to decide". The case has been pending for more than a year, he said and adjourned it to tomorrow.

He directed Shankar to be present in the Court tomorrow and resubmit the original files received by him from the Court and to explain about the inquiry he conducted.
Earlier one K Ganesan, a hearing and speech impaired man from Madurai, who was rejected for the post of watchman in a government school in Usilampatti educational district, moved the Court with the documents obtained through RTI showing the candidates appointments were made on the basis of recommendations of politicians.

He submitted the appointments did not adhere to the procedures established and defeated the constitutional guarantees for eligible persons and sought quashing of all appointments.
Out of 25 jobs of watchmen and sweepers, only twelve persons were selected on merit, he said.