Consider sub-inspectors’ representation for conversion of category: Madras HC to govt

The First bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam before which a batch of writ petitions filed by V. Rajaganesh and 58 others, came up for hearing, directed the Home Department and the DGP to consider their representation within six weeks.

The petitioners submitted they were recruited as Sub Inspectors in 2008. On February 8, 2015, the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) issued a notification to recruit fresh SIs.

While challenging the notification, they sought a direction to TNUSRB to post them as sub inspectors (taluk), either by transfer or conversion to Category-I with age relaxation as applicable.

Currently, they were working as SI category–II and III. The three categories are Law and Order, Armed Reserve and Tamil Nadu Special Police Battalion. There has been no salary difference between the three categories, they said.

Counsel K. Ravi and Anantha Padmanaban contended that the petitioners were eligible for Category-I. Despite repeated representations, the authorities had not taken any action.

Additional Advocate-General, P.H. Arvindh Pandian, submitted the petitioners had nothing to do with the notification dated February 8 , which was for fresh recruitment. They cannot seek conversion to Category-I under direct vacancies. The Bench said the endeavour to assail the fresh recruitment process was misconceived.