Plea seeks to quash TNAU notification 

Staff Reporter 
 
Madurai, August 11, 2018 00:00 IST

It calls for applications for appointment as officers

A petition was filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday challenging the notification issued by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University calling for applications for appointment as university officers.

The petitioner, S. Selvakumar an Assistant Professor of Soil and Water Conservative Engineering working at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Virudhunagar, claimed that the university, in a circular dated July 23, called for applications to various posts. All the 27 vacancies were earmarked for open competition and did not follow the reservation system. The selection was open to only those who worked with the university and not open to everyone, he said.

He claimed that the University Grants Commission and Ministry of Human Resources Development had issued circulars categorically emphasising the implementation of reservation policy by all Central and State universities receiving grant in aid and other universities. Also, the eligibility criterion for such posts under the TNAU Act, 1971, was six years of service as Professor. But the notification called for those experienced as professor for five years, contrary to the Act, he claimed.

The petitioner further added that the tenure of university officers, which could be renewed as per the Act, was not mentioned in the circular. The notification had to be set aside as it was not in accordance with the Act, the petitioner contended. A division bench of Justices M. M. Sundresh and N. Sathish Kumar directed notice to the respondents concerned and adjourned the case.