Judiciary cannot allow outsourcing of its work at any level

Chennai, Jul 5 (UNI) The judiciary cannot allow outsourcing of any of its work at any level, a division bench of the Madras High Court told Home Secretary S Malathi.

The bench comprising Justice S J Mukhopadhaya and Justice V Dhanapalan yesterday told Home Secretary S Malathi, ''We will not allow any outsider to handle our papers. It is not like your civic corporations entrusting conservancy works to private parties. These are court documents.'' The judges were reacting to Ms Malathi's submission in court that the government was planning to outsource either whole or part of the works currently being handled by masalchis (peons) in subordinate courts.

The matter relates to two petitions filed by masalchis working in Perambalur court, seeking regularisation of their services.

Though the court had told an Under Secretary on an earlier occasion that the Supreme Court had categorically held that temporary posts could not be regularised, an affidavit was filed stating that if relevant particulars were furnished by court authorities, the government would consider regularising the services.

The judges, on Wednesday, took exception to the affidavit and directed the Home Secretary to be present in court on July 4, to ascertain if there was any communication gap between the court and the government. The judges told Ms Malathi yesterday that orders of the court should reach the government.

She added that the registrar-general of the High Court had not yet furnished details such as how many vacancies were required and what was the nature of work. The judges, stating that details furnished in court affidavit should be sent to government for appropriate action, directed the registrar-general to forward the details of the requirement of masalchis for different courts within a week.

Passing an order later, the judges gave the government four months' time to take a decision and file a status report before the court.

The matter was then adjourned to November 5 for further proceedings.

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