Madras HC directs government to provide employment to woman under SC/ST rules

Chennai: Pointing out that Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules mandate providing employment to a member of the family of an SC/ST who is brutally murdered, the Madras high court has directed the state government to provide employment to a woman, sister of the deceased belonging to SC, within four weeks.

Justice D. Hariparanthaman issued the directive while disposing of a petition from Sudha, which sought a direction to the authorities to provide her appointment on compassionate grounds by considering her educational qualification.

The petitioner belonged to SC. Her brother Muthukumar was alleged to have been murdered on April 26, 2015 by Arunpandian and three others who belonged to a dominant caste Hindu community.

The Manapparai police in Tiruchi registered a case against the accused under IPC read with section 3 (2) (v) of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The petitioner’s father sent a representation dated May 8, 2015 to Tiruchy collector to provide employment to the petitioner. He also filed a petition in the Madras high court under section 482 Cr.P.C (Saving of inherent power of high court).

The DSP had filed a counter that the superintendent of police had recommended to collector for providing employment to a member of the petitioner’s family. However, the petition was dismissed by the court on the ground that the relief sought for could not be granted under section 482 Cr.P.C. Hence, the petitioner filed the present petition.

The judge said when the petition came up for hearing on January 29, the government advocate had produced a letter by SP to Collector to provide employment to the petitioner under SC/ST Rules.