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Wednesday, Aug 09, 2006

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Costs imposed on Collector for defying order

Staff Reporter

Classic instance of hierarchy consistently disobeying decrees, says High Court Bench

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has imposed costs of Rs.10,000 on the Theni Collector for repeatedly disobeying the orders passed by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) to regularise the services of two panchayat union school employees from Bodinaickanur.

Passing common orders on writ petitions filed by the employees, Justice P. Jyothimani said the amount should be paid to the Chief Justice Relief Fund and directed the Collector to regularise the services of the petitioners besides conferring all benefits.

The Judge pointed out that the petitioners, S. Ramesh and K. Murugan, were appointed as technical assistants on December 8, 1994 and August 1, 1992, respectively, on nominal muster roll basis.

In 1998, they moved the SAT seeking regularisation of their services.

The tribunal, on February 8, 2002, directed the Director of Rural Development to consider their claims for the existing vacancies. But the official did not comply with the order following which another application was moved before the tribunal.

Again, the SAT, on July 9, 2003, directed the Collector to regularise their services.

He too did not comply with the orders and hence the petitioners moved the tribunal, which passed a similar order for the third time. Even that order was not complied with and the duo moved the Bench as a last resort.

"This can only be treated as a classic instance where the hierarchy has consistently disobeyed court orders," the Judge said.

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