HC dismisses PIL against tenders for teachers' recruitment

Chennai, Apr 25 (UNI) Madras High Court today dismissed a Public Interest Litigation seeking to quash a tender issued by ELCOT and direct the government to vest with the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) the right to recruit Junior PG Assistants (Gr.I) in computer science in all schools in Tamil Nadu.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice P Sathasivam and Mr Justice J A K Sampath Kumar dismissed the PIL filed by Selvaraj, a PG in computer science, seeking to quash a tender issued by ELCOT General manager on January 30, 2006.

The petitioner said for computer science courses, junior PG assistants with a consolidated pay of Rs 4,500 per month were recruited by the government. For all other subjects, posts were filled up through the TRB. This procedure was in violation of the right to employment of thousands of computer science graduates, he contended.

The bench said it was a matter of policy to go for contracts, particularly in the field of education and it felt 'for any such matter, the authority calling for tender is the best way and the same cannot be lightly interfered with by way of judicial review'.

Further, as rightly pointed out, for the government it would be difficult to purchase, maintain and upgrade computers continuously.

'We do not find any merit in the petition', the bench added.

UNI XR AA RA HT1844