Compassionate jobs order: HC initiates contempt action on TN chief secy, ex-CS

THE Madras High Court has initiated suo motu contempt of court proceedings against officers who have served as the chief secretary from September 19, 2023, until now — for failing to take action as per the court's orders issued on that date on a batch of petitions regarding issues in providing appointments based on compassionate grounds to the dependents of government staff who died in harness.

- R SIVAKUMAR @ Chennai

The directions issued to the chief secretary in the September 19 order included setting up a panel to look into the issues in the appointments on compassionate grounds and recommend amendments to the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Appointment on Compassionate Grounds) Rules, 2023, to fix a time frame. Observing that a perusal of records established that no action had been taken, Justice Battu Devanand, passing the orders on Friday, said the court was of the "prima facie opinion" that the chief secretary had failed to comply with the order.