'For 20 Yrs He Was Sleeping': Rajasthan High Court Rejects Govt Employee's Plea Against 2002 Penalty Stopping Yearly Increments

'For 20 Yrs He Was Sleeping': Rajasthan High Court Rejects Govt Employee's Plea Against 2002 Penalty Stopping Yearly Increments

Nupur Agrawal

25 Mar 2025 12:15 PM



Dismissing a government employee's plea challenging a penalty which stopped three annual grade increments as well as rejection of appeal and review petitions, the Rajasthan High Court observed that his plea was barred by delay of over two decades.

Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand in his order said,

"It appears that the petitioner was sleeping over the matter for more than two decades and all of sudden, he woke up after twenty years and approached this Court without giving any plausible explanation in the instant writ petition about the aforesaid inordinate delay".

Also Read - Jurisdictional Assessing Officer Lacks Jurisdiction To Issue Reassessment Notices U/S 148 Of Income Tax Act: Rajasthan High Court

The petitioner was imposed with the penalty of stoppage of 3 annual grade increments in 2002 under Rule 16 of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules. An appeal as well as a review petition were filed against this 2002 order imposing penalty, but these were rejected in 2003 and 2004 respectively.

He then approached the high court in 2024 filing a petition challenging the original order imposing penalty as well as rejection of the appeal and the review petition against that order.

Also Read - IPR Violation Affects Public Interest, Courts Should Be Prompt In Granting Interim Injunction: Rajasthan High Court

The Court highlighted the settled position of law by making a reference to many Supreme Court decisions.

In the cases of New Delhi Municipal Council v Pan Singh and Others, as well as State of Uttaranchal and another v Sri Shiv Charan Singh Bhandari and Others it was held that irrespective of there being no period of limitation provided for filing a writ petition under Article 226, ordinarily it should be filed within a reasonable period. It was further held that relief to someone who put forth a stale claim could be refused on account of delay and laches because anyone sleeping over his rights was bound to suffer.

Also Read - Rajasthan HC Orders Woman's Appointment As Clerk Denied For Taking Back Original Documents In Bonafide Belief That Selection Process Is Over

Similarly, in the case of Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Others v T.T.Murali Babu, it was held that,

“The court should bear in mind that it is exercising an extraordinary and equitable jurisdiction. As a constitutional court it has a duty to protect the rights of the citizens but simultaneously it is to keep itself alive to the primary principle that when an aggrieved person, without adequate reason, approaches the court at his own leisure or pleasure, the court would be under legal obligation to scrutinize whether the lis at a belated stage should be entertained or not. Be it noted, delay comes in the way of equity… Delay reflects inactivity and inaction on the part of a litigant “a litigant who has forgotten the basic norms, namely, "procrastination is the greatest thief of time" and second, law does not permit one to sleep and rise like a phoenix.”

Also Read - Eligibility Should Be Checked At Threshold, Not After Selection: Rajasthan HC Orders Appointment Of Asha Worker Denied Post Despite Selection

In this background, the high court observed that the petitioner approached the court after a delay of almost 20 years without any satisfactory explanation for laches and delay, and law had already set its face against such indolent litigants.

Accordingly, the petition was dismissed.

Title: Sudershan v State of Rajasthan & Ors.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Raj) 118

Reply sought on plea alleging lack of doctors to operate ultrasound scan machines in Madurai PHCs

Reply sought on plea alleging lack of doctors to operate ultrasound scan machines in Madurai PHCs

The litigant A Veronica Mary of Madurai stated in her petition that there are 13 block-level PHCs and 56 additional PHCs in Madurai district.

Express News Service

Updated on:

28 Feb 2025, 10:10 am

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday sought response from the state health department on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition alleging lack of trained doctors and radiologists to operate ultrasound scan machines in Primary Health Centres (PHC) in Madurai district.

The litigant A Veronica Mary of Madurai stated in her petition that there are 13 block-level PHCs and 56 additional PHCs in Madurai district. "These PHCs play a crucial role in maternal and infant health care including prenatal care, delivery and immunisation," she added.

However, ultrasound scan machines, which are essential for monitoring fetal development at every stage of pregnancy, are not present in most rural PHCs in Madurai, forcing women to travel long distances or depend on private hospitals for diagnosis, Mary alleged.

Though the state health department provided ultrasound machines in many block-level PHCs in Madurai and other southern districts by spending several crores, the said machines have not been put to proper use as there are no trained doctors and radiologists in the centre, she further claimed.

Particularly in Checkanurani PHC, which caters to the medical needs of over 50 villages in the region, the machine has been kept locked in a room due to the non-availability of staff to operate it, she alleged. She requested the court to direct authorities to ensure proper utilisation of the said machines across PHCs in the district.

A bench comprising justices J Nisha Banu and S Srimathy, which heard the plea, issued notice to the state health secretary, director of public health and district health officer and adjourned the case to next week for their response.

Withdraw decision to reduce pension of doctors who retired before 2009, association urges T.N. govt.

Withdraw decision to reduce pension of doctors who retired before 2009, association urges T.N. govt.

The Hindu Bureau

Chennai 26.02.2025

Terming it an “anti-labour” move, the Doctors Association for Social Equality (DASE) has urged the State government to withdraw its decision to reduce the pension of government doctors who retired before 2009. This will affect more than 850 doctors aged 70 and above.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, G.R. Ravindranath, general secretary of DASE, said the State government, in the name of revising pension, had taken steps to reduce the pension of retired government doctors. A circular to this effect was also issued. This was extremely shocking and condemnable, he said, adding that the retired doctors had expressed concern that this move would lead to a reduction of nearly ₹20,000 to their monthly pension.

Dr. Ravindranath said when the previous AIADMK government had tried to reduce the pension of retired doctors, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who was then Leader of the Opposition, had condemned the move and issued a statement. But now, it is worrying that the DMK government had taken up measures to reduce the pension, he said.

He urged the government to withdraw its decision immediately.

கண்டிப்பது குற்றமல்ல!

கண்டிப்பது குற்றமல்ல!

ப. இசக்கி : 24 பிப்ரவரி 2025, 2:55 am

DINAMANI 

பணி இடங்களில் ஓா் ஊழியரை அலுவலகப் பணிகளுக்காக முதுநிலை ஊழியா்கள் கண்டிப்பதை, வேண்டும் என்றே செய்யப்படும் அவமானமாகக் கருதி குற்றவியல் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க முடியாது என உச்சநீதிமன்றம் அண்மையில் அளித்துள்ள தீா்ப்பு கவனத்தில் கொள்ள வேண்டியதாக இருக்கிறது. தெலங்கானா மாநிலம் செகந்திராபாத்தில் உள்ள தேசிய மன நல நிறுவனத்தின் (என்.ஐ.எம்.ஹெச்.) இயக்குநா் மீது அங்கு பணியாற்றும் பெண் உதவிப் பேராசிரியை ஒருவா் உயரதிகாரிக்கு புகாா் மனு ஒன்றை அனுப்பியுள்ளாா்.

அதை அறிந்த இயக்குநா், அந்தப் பெண் உதவிப் பேராசிரியரைத் தனது அறைக்கு அழைத்து புகாா் மனு அனுப்புவதற்கான அலுவலக நடைமுறைகள் உங்களுக்குத் தெரியுமா, எப்படி புகாா் அனுப்பினீா்கள் என கூறி கண்டித்துள்ளாா். அதைத் தனக்கு ஏற்பட்ட அவமானமாகக் கருதிய அந்தப் பெண் உதவிப் பேராசிரியா், இயக்குநா் மீது காவல்துறையில் புகாா் அளித்துள்ளாா். புகாரில் இயக்குநா் தன்னை பலா் முன்னிலையில் சத்தம்போட்டு பேசி அவமானப்படுத்தி விட்டதாகவும், அதனால் தனக்கு மன வேதனை ஏற்பட்டதோடு, மருத்துவ ரீதியில் தனக்கு உடல்நிலை பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தி விட்டதாகவும் தெரிவித்துள்ளாா்.

இது நடந்தது கடந்த 2022-ஆம் ஆண்டு, தீ நுண்மி பரவிய காலம். பெண் உதவிப் பேராசிரியருக்கு உரிய பாதுகாப்பு உபகரணங்கள் அளிக்கப்படவில்லை என்பதுதான் பிரச்னைக்கான அடிப்படை. இயக்குநா் மீது இந்திய குற்றவியல் சட்டப் பிரிவு (ஐ.பி.சி.) 504-இன்படி ( திட்டமிட்டு அவமானப்படுத்துதல்) உள்ளிட்ட 4 பிரிவுகளின் கீழ் வழக்குப் பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டது. இதில், புதிய சட்டத் திருத்தமான பாரதிய நையாசங்கித் (பி.என்.எஸ்.) பிரிவு 352-இன்படி திட்டமிட்டு அவமானப்படுத்துதல் குற்றத்துக்காக அதிகபட்சம் 2 ஆண்டுகள் வரை சிறை தண்டனை விதிக்கலாம். இந்த வழக்கை ரத்து செய்யும்படி உயா்நீதிமன்றத்தை அணுகினாா் இயக்குநா். ஆனால், உயா்நீதிமன்றமோ, ‘ இது ஒரு தீவிரமான பிரச்னை; முழுமையாக விசாரிக்கப்பட வேண்டும்’ எனக் கூறி இயக்குநரின் மனுவை தள்ளுபடிசெய்துவிட்டது.

இயக்குநா், உச்சநீதிமன்றத்துக்குச் சென்றாா். வழக்கை விசாரித்த உச்சநீதிமன்ற நீதிபதிகளான சஞ்சய் கரோல், சந்தீப் மேத்தா ஆகியோரைக் கொண்ட அமா்வானது, அலுவலகங்களில் மூத்தவா்கள் அவா்களுக்கு கீழ் உள்ள ஊழியா்களை அலுவலகப் பணிகளுக்காகக் கண்டிப்பது என்பது “வேண்டுமென்றே அவமதிக்கும்’செயல் ஆகாது; வேலை செய்யும் இடத்தில் கண்டிப்பது என்பது நிா்வாகச் செயல்பாட்டின் ஒரு பகுதி; அதற்காக கிரிமினல் வழக்குத் தொடா்ந்தால் அது அலுவலகங்களில் பேண வேண்டிய பொது ஒழுக்கக் கட்டமைப்பை சீா்குலைக்கும் என்றுஅண்மையில் தீா்ப்பளித்துள்ளது.

அதே வேளையில், கண்டிப்பது என்பது கீழ்நிலை ஊழியா்கள் வேறு ஏதேனும் தவறைச் செய்யவோ அல்லது பொது அமைதிக்குப் பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தவோ தூண்டும் வகையில் அமையாத வரையில் அதை கிரிமினல் குற்றமாகக் கருதக் கூடாது என்றும் தெளிவுபடுத்தியுள்ளது. அலுவலகங்களுக்கு ஊழியா்கள் காலதாமதமாக வருவதில் தொடங்கி, கைப்பேசிகளில் தொடா்ந்து பேசிக் கொண்டிருத்தல், சக ஊழியா்களுடன் நீண்ட நேரம் அரட்டை என அலுவலகப் பணிகளைச் செய்யாமல் இருப்பது போன்ற ஒழுங்கீனங்கள் அதிகமாக நிகழ்கின்றன.

அலுவலகங்கள் சுமுகமாக செயல்படவும், உற்பத்தியைப் பெருக்கவும், இலக்கை அடையவும், வாடிக்கையாளா்களின் நன்மதிப்பைப் பெறவும் ஊழியா்களின் சுயஒழுக்கம் முக்கியம். ஊழியா்களையும், அவா்களது செயல்பாட்டையும் முறையாகக் கண்காணித்து நிறுவனத்தின் அன்றாட மற்றும் சுமுகமான செயல்பாட்டை உறுதி செய்வது மூத்த ஊழியா்களின் கடமை. ஊழியா்களின் பணி மற்றும் செயல்திறனையும், தவறான நடத்தையையும் கேள்வி கேட்காமல் இருந்தால், அது ஒரு தவறான முன்னுதாரணத்தை ஏற்படுத்தும் என்றும் நீதிபதிகள் தங்களது தீா்ப்பில் கூறியுள்ளது கவனத்தில் கொள்ளத்தக்கது.

அரசு மற்றும் தனியாா் அலுவலகங்களில் கீழ்நிலை ஊழியா்களின் ஒழுங்கீனங்களுக்காக உயா் அதிகாரிகள் கடிந்து கொண்டால், சாதிப் பெயரைச் சொல்லி திட்டியதாகவோ அல்லது மதத்தின் பெயரைச் சொல்லி இழிவுபடுத்தியதாகவோ அல்லது பாலியல் ரீதியாக தொந்தரவு செய்ததாகவோ குற்றம்சாட்டப்படுகின்றன. கேரள மாநிலம் கொச்சியில் அரசுடமை வங்கி அதிகாரிகள் 2 பேருக்கு எதிராக சாதிப் பெயரை சொல்லி திட்டியதாக ஊழியா் கொடுத்த புகாரின்பேரில் வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது, தெரிய வந்துள்ளது.

பாதிக்கப்பட்டதாக கூறப்படுவோருக்கு ஆதரவாக தொழிற்சங்கங்களும், சில வேளைகளில் உறவினா்களும், பொதுமக்களும் கூட போராட்டங்களை நடத்துகின்றனா். கடந்த நூற்றாண்டில், தவறு செய்யும் ஊழியா்களை முதலில் கடுமையாக எச்சரிப்பது, தொடா்ந்து தவறு செய்தால் தண்டனை அளிப்பது, அதன் பிறகும் தொடா்ந்தால் பணிநீக்கம் செய்வது போன்ற நடைமுறைகள் இருந்தன. உலகமயமாக்கலுக்குப் பிறகு பெரும் மாற்றங்கள் நிகழ்ந்து வருகின்றன. நிறுவனம்-ஊழியா்களுக்கு இடையிலான பிணைப்பு என்பது பெருமளவு நலிந்துவிட்டது. எனவே, பணியிடங்களில் ஒழுங்கீனமாக நடந்து கொள்ளும் ஊழியா்களுக்கு மேலோட்டமாக சில ஆலோசனைகள் வழங்கப்பட்டு அவா்களுடைய நடத்தையை மேம்படுத்திக் கொள்ள அறிவுரைகள் வழங்கப்படுகின்றன.

அறிவுரைகள் பிடிக்காவிட்டால் ஊழியா் வெளியேறுவாா்; அறிவுரைகளைப் பின்பற்றாவிட்டால் ஊழியா் வெளியேற்றப்படுவாா். இதுதான் நடைமுறையாக இருக்கிறது. இதைப் பற்றி இருதரப்புமே இப்போது கவலைப்படுவதில்லை. அதிலும், இப்போது நிறுவனங்களைப் பழிவாங்குவதாக கருதி ஊழியா்களே தாமாகவே முன்வந்து வெளியேறும் புதிய கலாசாரம் தொடங்கி இருக்கிறது. எனவே, அலுவலக விதிமுறைகளுக்கு உள்பட்டு ஒழுக்கத்துடனும், பணித்திறனுடனும் நடந்து கொள்ளும் ஊழியா்களுக்கு கண்காணிப்பு தேவை இருக்காது. மூத்த ஊழியா்கள் கண்டிக்க வேண்டிய அவசியமும் ஏற்படாது.

Panel to hear govt staff demands

Panel to hear govt staff demands 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 24.01.2025

Chennai : CM M K Stalin has constituted a committee to listen to the grievances of various govt employees’ associations and resolve them. A govt statement said on Sunday that the panel consists of public works department minister E V Velu, finance minister Thangam Thennarasu, school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and human resource development minister Kayalvizhi Selvaraj. 

They would meet representatives from govt associations and discuss their demands on Monday at the secretariat. The move comes after a state-wide protest announced by the joint action council of TN teachers organisations and govt employees organisation (Jacto-Geo) pressing its charter of demands on Feb 25.

Corrupt officials trapped by DVAC in 11 bribery cases since January 2024

Corrupt officials trapped by DVAC in 11 bribery cases since January 2024

S. Sundar

MADURAI

Law & order 08.02.2025

An increased awareness against corruption has emboldened common man, already dejected over demand of bribe by State government officials and employees, to come forward to lodge complaints with the sleuths of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption unit in Madurai.

The unit has registered as many as 11 cases against bribe-demanding government employees and trapped them along with their conduits since January 2024. As a result, officials from various departments like Survey, Registration, Revenue, Water Resources and Tangedco have been arrested after being trapped. The recent case was the arrest of a Sub-Inspector of Police at K. Pudur, who demanded huge money from a woman complainant for arresting an accused in an assault case.

Anger over harassment

“It is not that every individual person is coming forward to lodge complaints against government employees who put payment of bribe as a prerequisite to offer some official service. When the demand is higher or the applicant is ill-treated or harassed with inordinate delay in carrying out their duties, out of anger and frustration, people come to lodge complaint with us,” a DVAC officer said.

“The State government is paying salary to the employees to discharge their duties, and demanding bribe is a crime under the Prevention of Corruption Act,” he said.

“When people come forward to lodge a complaint, the first thing we tell them is not tell anyone, including family members, about the complaint. Otherwise, there is every chance of the issue reaching the ears of the accused employee, and the process of trapping might fail,” he added.

After registering a case, a team of sleuths would issue tainted currencies to the complainant and direct him/her to follow the diktat of the accused official. The sleuths would watch the happening from a distance and wait for a signal from the complainant of having handed over the currency to swoop upon him. After being caught red-handed, the accused is arrested.

“The issue does not end here. Our manual has mandated us to get the issue, for which the complainant had approached the officer, addressed at the earliest. The only issue is that the complainant should have all the papers right and should be eligible to get the service,” he added.

The officer said those arrested under a trap on corruption charge had higher chances of getting convicted. “They also spend their lifetime in attending court hearings for their act of greed,” he added.

New Collectors for nine districts; Secretaries for three departments

New Collectors for nine districts; Secretaries for three departments

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 01.02.2025

The Tamil Nadu government on Friday posted new Collectors to nine districts and new Secretaries to the Departments of Special Programme Implementation, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and Welfare of Differently-Abled Persons.

Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam issued the government order posting R. Sadheesh as the Dharmapuri Collector, S. Saravanan as the Dindigul Collector, and M. Prathap as the Tiruvallur Collector. While C. Dinesh Kumar is the new Collector of Krishnagiri, S. Shiek Abdul Rahman has been posted as the Villupuram Collector.

K. Tharpagaraj will be the Tiruvannamalai Collector and V. Mohanachandran has been posted as the Tirupattur Collector. R. Sukumar and K. Sivasoundaravalli have been posted as the Tirunelveli and Tiruvarur Collectors respectively.

Pradeep Yadav will hold the full additional charge as the Secretary of the Special Programme Implementation Department, while Jayashree Muralidharan will hold the full additional charge as Secretary of the Welfare of Differently-Abled Persons Department. V. Dakshinamoorthy will serve as the Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department.

Madurai Commissioner

Chitra Vijayan will become the Commissioner of the Madurai Corporation. Gaurav Kumar will assume office as the Executive Director of Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board. A. Shanmuga Sundaram will become the Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation. J. Innocent Divya has been posted as the Commissioner of Technical Education and Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan as the Commissioner of Disaster Management. T. Charusree has been posted as the Director of Treasuries and Accounts and S.A. Raman as the Commissioner of Labour. S. Ganesh will be the Special Secretary in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.

Darez Ahamed will take over as the Managing Director, Guidance. M. Aarthi will hold the full additional charge as Project Director, Tamil Nadu Women Employment and Safety Programme. R. Kannan has been posted as the Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services. K. Santhi has been posted as the Director of Sericulture. M.N. Poongodi has been posted as the Joint Commissioner (Admin.), Commercial Taxes.

Lalitaditya Neelam has been posted as the Joint Commissioner of Municipal Administration. C. Palani has been posted as the Additional Commissioner (Admin.), Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments.

Shankar Lal Kumawat has been posted as the Additional Secretary, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department. K.M. Sarayu will be the Joint Secretary (Protocol), Public Department. Srutanjay Narayanan has been posted as the Joint Director (e-Governance) and Joint Chief Executive Officer, Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency. R. Anamika is the Additional Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. R. Jaya has been posted as the Commissioner of Economics and Statistics.

S.P. Amrith is the Additional Registrar of Co-operative Societies, while S. Kishan Kumar is the Sub-Collector, Chidambaram. Durga Moorthi will assume office as the Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Magnesite Limited, while T. Prabhushankar will become the Managing Director, Metropolitan Transport Corporation. K.P. Karthikeyan will take over as the Managing Director, Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu.

D. Baskara Pandian will assume office as the Project Director of Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project-II and the Chennai-Kanniyakumari Industrial Corridor Project, and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Road Development Company. J.E. Padmaja will take over as the Additional Collector (Dev.), District Rural Development Agency.

AIADMK vs DMK on poll promises

AIADMK vs DMK on poll promises 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 10.01.2025

Chennai : There was a heated exchange of words in the state assembly on Thursday after AIADMK members alleged that DMK-led govt failed to fulfil poll promises, including NEET exemption, tablet computers for students, and the old contributory pension scheme for govt staff. 

When former AIADMK minister R Kamaraj asked about the promise of creating 10 lakh jobs per year, labour welfare minister C V Ganesan and industries minister T R B Rajaa cited data. Rajaa said Union govt data showed 10 lakh jobs were created annually in the state and ₹10 lakh crore investments attracted during the DMK’s tenure. The chief minister scripted history by generating 31 lakh jobs and directed that 50 lakh jobs be generated in five years, he said. The minister pointed to the latest RBI report saying TN generated most employment in the country, with 8.42 lakh man-days of employment in 2023-24. 

When Kamaraj countered that the data was only from a book and not physical progress, Rajaa said the information came from the “Union govt that’s closer to the AIADMK”. Later, AIADMK’s A Govindasamy said claims made in the governor’s address were AIADMK’s initiatives. When Govindasamy accused the govt of stalling his party-led govt’s marriage assistance scheme of ₹50,000 to graduates and ₹25,000 to girls completing Class X, besides a sovereign of gold, to launch Pudumai Penn scheme, transport minister S S Sivasankar said the AIADMK changed the Justice Party’s mid-day meal scheme to a nutritious meal scheme, while gold for marriage was stalled during AIADMK rule itself. Former AIADMK minister S P Velumani said the scheme could not be continued due to Covid-19, but a tender was floated and the DMK govt did not take it forward. Govindasamy sought to know when DMK would fulfil its various poll promises including additional support price for paddy and sugarcane, besides increasing days of employment under MGNREGS from 100 to 150 as four years had passed.

National anthem is sung at beginning, end of Governor’s address: Raj Bhavan

National anthem is sung at beginning, end of Governor’s address: Raj Bhavan

The Governor reaffirms his commitment  to upholding the constitutional values

Raj Bhavan statement

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI  07.01.2025


Hours after Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi walked out of the Assembly without reading his customary speech, taking exception to the national anthem not being played at the start of his address, the Raj Bhavan said in a statement that the national anthem was sung or played at the beginning and end of the Governor’s address in every Assembly in the country.

When the national anthem was not played, the Governor reminded the Assembly of its constitutional duty and appealed to the Chief Minister and the Speaker to sing or play it, the Raj Bhavan said. However, Mr. Ravi was “cussedly refused”, the statement said.

“Not singing or playing the national anthem at the beginning of the Governor’s address is a blatant disrespect to the Constitution and the national anthem. In deep anguish, the Governor left the House. The Governor reaffirms his commitment to upholding the constitutional values and restoring respect for the national anthem in all State functions while upholding the Tamil pride,” an official release said.

The Raj Bhavan further said: “It is also mandatory, as per the National Anthem Code. Even after repeated reminders conveyed well in advance, it is unfortunate that these requests were deliberately ignored. The Governor reiterated his unwavering love, respect, and admiration for the rich cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu, including its language, culture, and traditions.”

The Governor had always upheld the sanctity of the Tamil State song, Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, and sang it with reverence at every event, it maintained. “Tamil, the world’s oldest and most celebrated language, holds a unique place in the hearts of countless Indians, and the Governor shares this sentiment wholeheartedly. In every capacity, the Governor has supported the promotion of Tamil culture and language, both within the State and on national platforms,” it said.

It was “the duty of the Governor to respect the Constitution and follow the Constitutional duties. Respect to the national anthem is a fundamental duty enshrined in the Constitution, it is also a matter of national pride,” the Raj Bhavan said.

State cancels smart metering tender awarded to Adani Group

State cancels smart metering tender awarded to Adani Group

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI  02.01.202

Tamil Nadu’s ambitious smart meter project to modernise electricity billing has been stalled, after the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) cancelled the tender awarded to Adani Energy Solutions Limited, part of the Adani Group.

Confirming the cancellation of the tender for procuring smart meters, a senior official of Tangedco said that currently, Adani was the only company making smart meters in the country.

Officials of TNPDCL conducted negotiations with the company officials, and found that the price quoted was high.

The senior electricity official said that at a time when several States were planning to install 30 crore smart meters, with Tamil Nadu alone needing nearly 1.20 crore smart meters, it was not possible to stick to the delivery schedule.

Modernisation project

TNPDCL had planned to modernise electricity meters at a cost of ₹19,000 crore for nearly 1.20 crore customers in three phases. The smart meter project was to be implemented under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).

Adani Energy Solutions Limited has presence in various facets of the energy domain, including power transmission, distribution, smart metering, and cooling solutions.

As per an investor presentation made by Adani Energy Solutions, the company has a smart meter portfolio of 22.8 million, with a contract value of ₹27,200 crore. In an earnings call in October last year, the company said it expected the Tamil Nadu bid to be closed in a couple of months.

The tender cancellation comes in the wake of the indictment of Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani in New York over allegations of bribery and fraud. The group has denied the allegations.

The names of several State discoms, including that of Tamil Nadu, were included in the indictment.

Asset details of government employees cannot be shielded from public: Madras HC

Asset details of government employees cannot be shielded from public: Madras HC

These details, particularly the date of joining and superannuation are certainly not private information,” he said in a recent order.

Express News Service

Updated on:

24 Dec 2024, 10:28 am

CHENNAI: Setting aside an order of the State Information Commission denying information on the assets and liabilities of a government officer, the Madras High Court has held that such details cannot be shielded from public scrutiny.

Justice CV Karthikeyan, passing orders on petition filed by social activist C Seenivasan of Krishnagiri district, refused to accept the contention that Section 8 of the Right to Information Act exempts disclosure of personal information of public servant V Kalipriyan, assistant engineer of Water Resources Department.

“The service register of a public servant would contain details regarding date of joining the service, transfers, increments, earned leave and punishment details, if any. These details, particularly the date of joining and superannuation are certainly not private information,” he said in a recent order.

Even though the punishment details, if shared may cause stigma on the public servant, the judge said once an individual accepts to join public service, he must accept that he lives in public glare and cannot avoid the general public from seeking details at least so far as their service is concerned. The judge, after setting aside the order of the SIC, remanded the matter back to the SIC for fresh consideration by following the procedure enunciated by law.

Courts need not interfere in transfers of govt staff: HC

Courts need not interfere in transfers of govt staff: HC 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 04.12.2024

Chennai : The power of transfer vests with the competent authorities of the govt department concerned and courts need not interfere when it is exercised in the public interest, the Madras high court has said. “Importantly, courts cannot run or interfere with public administration in a routine manner,” a division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice M Jothiraman said. A writ against a transfer can be entertained only if such a transfer order is issued by an incompetent authority having no jurisdiction or if allegations of mala fides are raised, the court said. 

“Routine administrative transfer would not provide cause for an employee to institute a petition before the courts. Post or place can never be the choice of an employee,” the judges said. Transfer guidelines are concessions and cannot be construed as a right. Such guidelines are meant to regulate transfers and postings but would not fall under the purview of service conditions. Thus, it is unenforceable before the court of law, the bench added. The court made the obser vations while rejecting a plea moved by Achutha Gomathi, a member of the Indian Army engineering team, seeking direction to the Army to consider her request to be posted in a place near Chennai. “No doubt every family may have one or other difficulty in one way or another. However, such personal grievances of the employees may be considered by the competent authority and certainly not by the courts,” the court said.

Doctors to admit all fever cases in protest against official’s remarks

Doctors to admit all fever cases in protest against official’s remarks 

TIMES OF INDIA 26.11.2024

Chennai : Tamil Nadu state doctors association announced plans to admit all one-day fever cases in protest against a senior official’s directive, which it called humiliating. The official warned doctors that they would be held accountable if fever patients died and insisted all fever cases be admitted. 

Association president Dr K Senthil said, “We get 10,000 fever cases daily in govt hospitals. Admitting all is impractical.” Dr Senthil said most patients recover with rest and medicines within days, and admitting them risks exposing them to immunecompromised conditions in hospitals. Diagnosing diseases such as dengue or typhoid on day one is challenging, and admissions are typically made only if conditions worsen, he added. The association decided to tell patients to get admitted on day one of fever. “At least 95% of case sheets will say patients are unwilling, absconding or discharged against medical advice,” he said. TNN

Stalin directs govt offices to read Preamble on Nov 26

Stalin directs govt offices to read Preamble on Nov 26 

TIMES OF INDIA 25.11.2024 

Chennai : Chief minister M K Stalin has directed all govt offices, courts and educational institutions to read the Preamble of the Indian Constitution on Nov 26, marking the 75th year of the Constitution’s adoption. In a release, state govt said that based on the instructions from Stalin, arrangements have been made in secretariat, high court, district collectorates, all the govt offices, local body offices, schools and colleges to read the Preamble at 11 am on Nov 26. Stalin also urged education institutes to conduct speech competitions, seminars and quiz competitions on the fundamentals of Indian Constitution. The move comes in the backdrop of opposition parties accusing the BJP-led Union govt of not giving due respect to the Indian Constitution. The INDIA bloc had carried out the "Save Our Constitution" campaign against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

T.N. orders merging of govt. data centre and pension directorate with treasuries dept.

T.N. orders merging of govt. data centre and pension directorate with treasuries dept.

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 17.11.2024 

The Tamil Nadu government has issued an order to merge the Directorate of Pension and the Government Data Centre with the Treasuries and Accounts Department, under the administrative control of the Finance Department.

After the merger, the independent operations of the Directorate of Pension and the Government Data Centre would be carried out by the separate wings of the Treasuries and Accounts Department, a government order issued by Finance Secretary T. Udhayachandran said.

It was decided that the functional efficiency of the Treasuries and Accounts Department, the Government Data Centre, and the Directorate of Pension and Small Savings Department would be improved by restructuring them, the order added.

The Pension and Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) wing would perform the functions of the Directorate of Pension and the Government Data Centre, under the control of an Additional Director in the Commissionerate of Treasuries and Accounts. After the merger, the retained employees would continue to work on the same premises at the Perasiriyar K. Anbalagan Maaligai, under the control of the Commissioner of Treasuries and Accounts/ex-officio Director of Pension, the order added.

The Commissioner of Treasuries and Accounts would be the Budgeting, Controlling and Reconciling Officer, and necessary budget provisions would continue to be provided for the merged wings, it said.

The Commissioner of Treasuries and Accounts/ex-officio Director of Pension may send necessary proposals for further rationalisation of posts and functions of these wings, the order further said.

Email policy warns State government employees against derogatory language

Email policy warns State government employees against derogatory language

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 09.11.2024 

The email policy for Tamil Nadu government employees, unveiled recently, warns against emails containing language derogatory to religion, caste and ethnicity, and those containing anti-national messages and obscene material. It also prohibits the sharing of passwords.

About 1.10 lakh people are using the official email services of the Tamil Nadu government.

While the user is held responsible for any data/e-mail that is transmitted using the Tamil Nadu government e-mail service, “all emails/data sent through the email server are the sole responsibility of the user owning the account”. The policy is also against emails that are personal in nature (such as personal functions).

It also advocates the use of ‘reply all’ and ‘distribution lists’ with caution to reduce the risk of sending emails to the wrong people. Backup of important emails/data is to be undertaken by the user at regular intervals, it says.

The policy specifies certain scenarios as “inappropriate use of services”. They include the distribution of emails anonymously, use of other officers’ user IDs or a false identity, and exchange of information in violation of laws, including copyright laws.

“Wilful transmission of an email containing a computer virus, misrepresentation of the identity of the sender of an email and the use or attempt to use the accounts of others without their permission” have also been specified as inappropriate use of services. Such actions might result in deactivation of the account. “The email solution shall be basic in nature, based on open-source tools in combination with necessary proprietary components to ensure security of the platform from cyber threats. GoTN e-Mail service will be provided over secure channels only,” it said. The G.O. with the new email policy was issued in September.

The email services are to be hosted by ELCOT, without compromising on the required features and security. The email solution is offered free of cost to government officials, and the expenditure would be borne by TNeGA. The minimum space for the mailbox of senior officials, including secretaries and heads of departments, is 2 GB, and for tappal assistants, it is 10 GB.

Snakebite envenoming declared a notifiable disease in Tamil Nadu

Snakebite envenoming declared a notifiable disease in Tamil Nadu

medicine

Snakebite envenoming poses a risk to vulnerable populations, including agricultural workers, children, and those living in tropical and sub-tropical areas. representational image

The life-threatening medical condition, caused by venomous snakebites, is a major public health concern in rural and snake-endemic regions

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 09.11.2024

In a significant move to tackle the public health challenge of snakebites, the Tamil Nadu government has declared snakebite envenoming a notifiable disease under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939.

A G.O. was issued in this regard by the Health and Family Welfare Department on November 4, following which a notification was published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette on November 6.

Snakebite envenoming, a life-threatening medical condition caused by venomous snakebites, is a major health concern in rural and snake-endemic regions. Often preventable, it poses a risk to vulnerable populations, including agricultural workers, children, and those living in tropical and sub-tropical areas.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised snakebite as a global public health issue and launched a strategy to reduce snakebite-induced deaths and disabilities.

The declaration follows the publication of the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare earlier this year.

The plan aims to halve snakebite deaths by 2030 through a ‘One Health’ approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health interventions.

By making snakebite a notifiable disease, the Tamil Nadu government aims to improve the collection of vital data, strengthen clinical infrastructure, and ensure the efficient distribution of anti-snake venom. The move is expected to lead to better prevention strategies, reduce mortality rates, and enhance treatment facilities across the State.

Under the new directive, both government and private hospitals are required to report cases of snakebite and related fatalities to the government. The mandatory reporting system will be integrated with the State’s Integrated Health Information Platform under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme.

There has been a significant under-reporting of snakebite cases and deaths in existing data, and the new system is designed to bridge this gap, a press release from the government said.

Medical recruitment board exam to be held on Jan 27

Medical recruitment board exam to be held on Jan 27 

PLANS TO RECRUIT 2,553 DOCTORS 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  08.11.2024 

Chennai : The Medical Recruitment Board will conduct an exam on Jan 27, 2025 for recruiting 2,553 doctors, Tamil Nadu health minister Ma Subramanian said on Thursday. The online examination, to be conducted by an external agency, would help the health department fill vacancies that would arise until 2026, the minister told reporters in Chennai. 

In March, the MRB invited applications to fill 2,553 doctors’ posts in Tamil Nadu Medical Service. The process was interrupted by elections. July 15 was the revised last date. The MRB received nearly 24,000 applications till then. “The board is verifying documents submitted by the candidates. Officials have spoken to agencies that can conduct exams. We wanted the exam in one phase because there is a risk of paper leaks if exams are conducted in more than one phase. We have decided that all candidates will take the online test together on Jan 27,” he said. 

Earlier this week, at least two govt doctors’ associations pointed out that nearly 30% of the sanctioned posts of doctors in govt hospitals were vacant. They said the department was delaying fresh recruitments by not conducting the MRB exams. The minister said associations were exaggerating the vacancy situation in hospitals and political leaders like Seeman were not updated with information about vacancy positions. “The state has made more than 18,000 appointments for the health department, including more than 5,000 by the MRB,” he said. “The delays are not new. The previous MRB recruitment process for 1,021 posts was delayed for several months as candidates, including those who worked in GHs during Covid, moved courts seeking incentives. The notification was issued in Oct 2022, but the recruitments were completed only in Feb 2024,” he said

Pensioners can submit digital life certificate at home through postal staff from Nov. 1

Pensioners can submit digital life certificate at home through postal staff from Nov. 1

The Hindu Bureau

MADURAI 31.10.2024

Pensioners of the Central and the State governments, Armed Forces, Employees Provident Fund and other pensioners who were required to submit life certificate from November 1 can do so from their home through the local postal employees.

To avoid the hassle of submitting life certificate in person, the India Post Payments Bank under the Postal Department has made arrangements for the postal employees to collect digital life certificate (Jeevan Pramaan) using biometric or FACE RD application methods directly from the home of the pensioners for a service charge of ₹70 to be paid to the postal employee.

The pensioners who wish to avail themselves of this service can contact the nearest post office or the local postal employee. They can also register the request through the website: https://ccc.cept.gov.in/ServiceRequest/request.aspx or by downloading the ‘Postinfo application’. For further details, people can contact 0452 2534499.

Special camps

Special camps will be organised in all the post offices from November 1 to provide this service and pensioners can submit their Aadhaar number, mobile phone number, PPO number and pension account details to the postal employee to submit their digital life certificate, according to a press release issued by the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Madurai Division on Wednesday.

Errors in Tamil Thai Vaazhthu sung at Udhayanidhi event

Errors in Tamil Thai Vaazhthu sung at Udhayanidhi event 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 26.10.2024 

Chennai : A week after the rendition of state song Tamil Thai Vaazhthu at an event presided over by governor R N Ravi caused a political uproar after the word ‘Dravida’ dropped from the lyrics, another controversy is brewing involving deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. The singers recited the song with errors at an event he presided over at the state secretariat, the video of which was later taken down by the information department from its portal. The song was first recited with an error and a microphone malfunction, prompting a second attempt which was rendered again with an error. Special Programme Implementation Secretary Darez Ahamed was seen exchanging a word with Udhayanidhi soon after his speech, prompting rendition of the song again. 

Talking to reporters later, Udhayanidhi attributed it to a technical snag. “They did not sing incorrectly, only a technical fault. The microphone malfunctioned and the recitation could not be heard, which is why we sang again. The national anthem was also properly recited,” he said, urging the media not to create an unnecessary issue. The event was organised to distribute PG certificates in public policy and management to 19 students who completed the TN CM’s Fellowship Programme. Taking to X, the BJP state unit said ‘Mother Tamil’ taught a fitting lesson to Udhayanidhi. The party wrote, "At least from now on, the fatherson should learn to do politics realising that karma boomerangs." 

In a statement, Union minister L Murugan sought a response from chief minister M K Stalin, who earlier demanded that the Centre recall the governor. “Will Udhayanidhi own up to the erroneous singing of the song and resign? Or will Stalin remove him from the post?” the minister said. PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss and AMMK chief T T V Dhinakaran conveyed their disappointment and shock.