JOIN USHearing a batch of petitions by Padmakka and other High Court employees, Justice V Jaganathan has quashed the promotion of Second Division Assistants (SDAs), Judgment writers and others and has directed reworking on the promotion list within two months.
Justice Dinakaran had made several amendments to the rules to recruit SDAs and stenographers. In 2009, the Chief Justice made amendment stating that degree was mandatory for SDAs and law degree was compulsory for Judgement writers.
The petitioners challenging the appointment said that most of them were appointed based on the rules framed in 1973 and the new order would deprive them of promotion and increment.
They had submitted that many employees had joined the service after completing SSLC and needed to pass PUC and then secure a law degree, which would take seven years.
Moreover, the five-year law course is a full-time course and one has to take leave from work for the said period to complete the course. Without a five-year leave, getting a law degree was impossible, the petitioners argued.
The petitioners submitted that extending these rules to the existing staff was incorrect.
They also submitted that amendment draft was sent to the Governor for approval.
However, when the Governor’s communication was delayed, the Chief Justice went ahead to implement it without securing the Governor’s approval.
The Counsel for the petitioners seeking to quash the promotions said that the old rules should continue.