The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Human Resources Management Department to file a report on the number of complaints lodged by government staff invoking the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against higher officials or other officials in their offices in the past five years.
Justice B. Pugalendhi sought the report in this regard and posted the matter for hearing to October 26. The court issued the direction while hearing a petition filed by M. Jothivel of Tirunelveli.
The petitioner was working as Personal Assistant to the Chief Educational Officer (CEO), Tirunelveli. He was transferred and posted as headmaster of a government higher secondary school. He filed the petition challenging the transfer order.
According to the petitioner, the Joint Director of School Education was the competent authority to issue the order. The court was informed that there was a strained relationship between the petitioner and the CEO.
The court granted an interim stay on the transfer order and permitted the petitioner to join duty. However, he should refrain from doing any work as the PA to the CEO till October 26, the court directed.
Considering the apprehension raised by the CEO that a case under the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act would be foisted against the officer at the instance of the petitioner, the court impleaded the Secretary of the Human Resources Management Department as a party and sought the report.
Published - October 21, 2026 07:57 pm IST