The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Madras High Court’s decision to cancel the appointment of 54 junior assistants in the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation, made through direct recruitment in 2021 when the AIADMK was in power.
The appointments had drawn allegations that political influence was used and that recruitment norms and seniority rules were bypassed. It was also alleged that interviews were conducted in the morning and appointment orders were issued the same night, leaving staff awaiting promotions—such as sanitation supervisors and drivers—shocked.
A group of more than 10 corporation employees, including sanitation supervisor Eswari, had approached the Madras High Court seeking cancellation of the appointments. Justice S.M. Subramaniam had ordered the appointments to be set aside, remarking that those who entered through the “back door” must exit the same way.
Challenging that ruling, the 54 appointees moved the Supreme Court. A bench of Justices Viswanathan and Arun Palli questioned how, out of 654 applicants, 440 applications were accepted and then processed to issue 54 appointment orders within a single day, calling the violations apparent.
Stating that opportunities must be provided to all and recruitment must follow the law, the Supreme Court confirmed the High Court order, directed that the appointment orders be cancelled immediately, and dismissed the appeal. The development is expected to add to the political pressure on the AIADMK and former minister Velumani, according to the report.
