HC orders notice on lecturers' appointments

Chennai, Jan 2 (UNI) Madras High Court today ordered notice returnable by two weeks, to the Tamil Nadu government on a Public Interest Litigation by Puthiya Tamilagam President Dr K Krishnasamy, seeking to restrain the state government from appointing lecturers in Government Arts and Science Colleges and Colleges of Education before making appointments to 495 backlog vacancies for SC/ST.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Mr Justice K Chandru, issueed notice on the PIL. Mr Krishnasamy also sought to quash the notification of September 18, 2006 for direct recruitment of lecturers to Government Arts and Science Colleges and Colleges of Education in the state, proposing to recruit 1000 lecturers.

Mr Krishnasamy said the Higher Education Department had assessed in 1998 that there were 595 backlog vacancies for lecturers' posts.

By a GO of December 14, 1998, out of 595, vacancies numbering 100 were filled by special written examination. Pursuant to his demand in the Assembly, the present Chief Minister placed a White Paper admitting thousands of backlog vacancies and promised to fill them.

Nothing had been done despite over seven years passing, he added.

While so, the Teacher Recruitment Board issued a notification dated September 18, 2006, proposing to recruit 1000 lecturers by direct recruitment and based on weightage marks to be awarded for teaching experience, higher qualification, original books/articles and marks for oral interview. Dispensing with written test for selection showed the state government's ulterior motive, he said.

UNI