‘Disheartening no ST prof in law college’

Passing orders on two petitions moved by ST candidates seeking to follow the reservation rule for appointment as Assistant Professors in Criminal Law, Labour Law and Administrative Law, Justice S M Subramaniam, said, “It is disheartening to record that the University authorities including the Syndicate failed to notice that not even a single Scheduled Tribe candidate is appointed as Law Professor across the State of Tamil Nadu after independence.”

“The attitudinal mindset explicitly portrays the insensitiveness on the part of the competent authorities. The Constitutional mandate of reaching the goal of social justice is undoubtedly lacking on account of the erroneous implementation of the Rule of Reservations,” he lamented while seeking the State Law Minister to take serious note of this and initiate appropriate action at the Governmental level to ensure that the Rule of Reservation is followed by the authorities as per the statutes and the Constitutional mandates.

“Political parties across the country claim that they are the messiah for the poor, downtrodden and depressed class communities. Though 72 years lapsed after independence and several parties ruled Tamil Nadu, not even one Scheduled Tribe candidate is appointed as Law Professor, despite the fact that the elected government is interested in naming the Law University and other various institutions in the name of Dr B R Ambedkar,” Justice Subramaniam added.

Directing the University Grants Commission (UGC) to appoint a Special Inspection Committee to identify the illegal and irregular appointments made in Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University and its affiliated colleges, the judge also sought it to initiate prosecution and disciplinary proceedings against all such illegalities and irregularities in consonance with the relevant statutes.

The judge also directed the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to scrutinise the allegations made by the petitioners and institute appropriate action.

Thereafter, Justice Subramaniam quashed the notification dated July 18, 2018 to the extent of the current vacancies notified for recruitment to the posts of International Law – 10 vacancies, Labour Law – 12 Vacancies, Constitutional Law – 15 vacancies, and Administrative Law – 10 Vacancies.

However, unwilling to disturb the appointments already made pursuant to the two recruitments held in 2010-2011 and 2013-2014, he directed the State to review the selection list now under preparation pursuant to the notification and arrange the merit selection list strictly in consonance with the principles laid down by the SC. With reference to the current selection list now under preparation, the Judge also directed the implementation of vertical and horizontal reservations by following the 200-point roster system scrupulously as per Section 27 read with Schedule V of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants (Conditions of Service) Act, 2016.