Chennai: The Madras high court has directed Tangedco to consider appointing a woman candidate, who secured more marks than other selected candidates and also acquired a certificate from the President of India for outstanding scout, to the post of assistant engineer on priority basis.
Allowing a petition from R. Priyadarsini, Kuzhithurai in Kanyakumari district, Justice T. Raja said, “Considering the selection of candidates who secured lesser marks than the petitioner, this court is satisfied with the marks secured by the petitioner and direct the Tangedco to bring her under priority category and consider her to the post for which she applied as per the notification. The said exercise shall be completed within 4 weeks.”
According to the petitioner, pursuant to a notification issued by Tangedco for the recruitment of 273 posts of assistant engineers in the electrical stream on December 28, 2015, she applied for the same. Of the 273, 48 seats were reserved for scheduled caste candidates. Of the 48, 9 seats were reserved for scheduled caste Arundhathiyars and the remaining seats were reserved for the scheduled caste general candidates. She had completed her B.E. in electrical and electronic engineering in 2008 and also acquired M.E. (Applied Electronics) degree from Anna University in 2010. She belongs to the scheduled caste community. Her marks after attending the interview was 29.283 whereas the cut off mark for the candidates under priority basis-women was 26.294. At the time of the interview, she had produced her certificates including the certificate from the President of India for outstanding scout, she added.She said as per Rule 55 of the Tamil Nadu State and Subordinate Service Rules, preference shall be given to the outstanding scouts candidates for appointment to any post by direct recruitment. However, the candidates who secured lesser marks than her were given appointments. But she has not received any appointment order. Therefore, she sent a representation to the authorities. But there was no response. Hence, she filed the present petition.
