Tangedco recruits assistant engineers

Chennai: After a delay of more than one year, the controversial process of recruiting assistant engineers for Tangedco began on Monday.

The recruitment drive for 375 assistant engineer posts by direct recruitment commenced with the viva voice interview at a private hotel near Vandalur zoo.  

The venue for the interview was earlier fixed at a private hotel in Koyambedu and then changed to another private hotel near Vandalur. According to Tangedco sources, the drive will continue for next six days and conclude on March 18.

Tangedco officials also admitted that complaints were received and reached the top brass of the energy department informing that certain private organisation, agencies and brokers are approaching the people, promising them permanent job in Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. “We have already issued a statement warning public and job seekers not to rely on middle men or any agency.

Selection to the advertised posts will be made based on merit, after following due recruitment process by way of competitive written examination and viva-voce interview,” said a Tangedco spokesperson.

However Tangedco’s appeal and statements did not pacify opposition parties, who again on Monday cried foul over the recruitment process. CPI(M) and the PMK also raised fresh queries on the selection process and the parties wanted to know why Tangedco prefers private hotels to conduct the recruitment drive when TNEB has a sprawling space in Chennai.

“Delay in recruitment, periodic change of interview venue and the changes in recruitment policy are examples exposing the state government’s administration,” PMK founder S. Ramadoss said in a statement on Monday.

He also criticised Tangedco’s decision to organise the viva interview at private hotels will only help corruption. Tamil Nadu Electricity Workers Union affiliated to CITU in a statement alleged that malpractices and lack of transparency were haunting the recruitment drive of Tangedco.