Chennai: Disappointment is rife among junior staff, including inspectors and sub-inspectors, in the fisheries department that the authorities refused no objection certificate (NOC) to at least 10 employees in the last few months to join higher posts. By last year end, the Tamil Nadu Fisheries University invited applications for several posts of assistant professor, a Class One officer rank. Nearly 10 persons, who possessed doctorate, received interview letters. To attend the interview, the department’s NOC was mandatory.
The certificate was not issued. A top official said they were helpless as the department was already facing staff crunch. Any further attrition would make implementation of government schemes difficult. However, the junior staff were not ready to buy this argument, They said it was their right to apply for higher posts and the department can’t curtail their opportunities.“It is s gross injustice and infringement of constitutional right”, a sub-inspector of fisheries, who was denied the opportunity to attend interview for the post of assistant professor at the university, told Deccan Chronicle.
In fact, two people moved the court last year when the department refused to give relieving letter and got favorable orders.
The Tamil Nadu Fisheries University and Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University have advertised for filling of nearly 20 assistant professor’s post. The same persons were going to apply again. They feared they would be denied the opportunity this time too.
Other side of the coin: Government recruits inspectors and sub-inspectors of fisheries through Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) whenever the jobs are notified and also maintains a waiting list. They will be provided professional training at the cost of government. The attrition rate is very high in the department, which is already facing 50 per cent staff shortage. Departmental sources claimed that NOC could be issued to a couple of employees, not to a large number. If employees wanted to go, they could quit. The department could not compromise the welfare of fisher- men. Efforts to get the reaction of the Commissioner of Fisheries Dr Beela Rajesh, were futile.
