Madras high court hearing against special secretary appointment adjourned
CHENNAI: The Madras high court has adjourned to March 7, the hearing on the petitions, which sought to quash the secretariat orders, appointing K. Srinivasan as special secretary and subsequently as secretary, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Justice T.Raja before whom the petitions filed by L.S.Vasanthimalar and B.Subramaniyam, additional secretary and joint secretary of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly came up for hearing on Tuesday, adjourned it to Wednesday.
In their petitions, the petitioners sought to quash the Secretariat Orders dated December 14, 2017, and December 20, 2017, appointing K.Srinivasan as special secretary and another order dated March 3, 2018, appointing him as secretary, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and consequently direct the authorities to appoint only persons holding the post of additional secretary or joint secretary or deputy secretary in the general administrative wing of the TN Legislative Assembly secretariat to the post of special secretary and secretary in the TN Legislative Assembly. They also sought a direction to appoint Vasanthimalar as the secretary, TN Legislative Assembly.
When the petitions came up for hearing, senior counsel P.Wilson appearing for the petitioners submitted that Advocate general flouted the undertaking given by him. On March 2, he argued the matter and it was posted to today. When he insisted on ordering maintenance of status quo, advocate general said nothing will happen. But to nullify his arguments, on the same day, they amended the Rules giving retrospective effect and on March 3, Srinivasan was appointed as secretary. This court never experienced breach of undertaking by the highest law officer of the state, Wilson added.
Making it clear that he never gave any undertaking in this matter, advocate general Vijay Narayan said now they have challenged the appointment of Srinivasan and the rules. Therefore, a counter affidavit has to be filed, he added.
