Chief Minister Vijay has issued a strict instruction to all ministers that appointments of assistants and office staff in ministerial offices must not be influenced by caste, religion or family ties, according to information from government sources.
Tamil Nadu has 41 government departments, and 34 ministers have been assigned portfolios in the current cabinet. Ministers’ offices typically recruit more than 400 personnel across roles such as office assistants, junior and senior assistants, special assistants, drivers, computer operators, record staff and security personnel.
Officials said that in previous administrations, ministers often brought in people from their own caste or religion, or relatives, within weeks of taking charge, and such staff were later sent back to their departments after a change in government. Similar attempts were reportedly being made now, including by a senior minister, and the matter was brought to the Chief Minister’s attention.
Following this, the Chief Minister is said to have prohibited caste- and religion-based staffing in ministerial offices. The lists submitted by ministers are being verified through intelligence police to check for any pending criminal cases, and appointments will be made based on the resulting report, after which the Chief Minister is expected to issue the formal government order.
