Chennai: Nearly after 34 years, a woman who is working as a Sweeper in Panchyat Union Dispensary, Chakkarapalli Union Panchayat, Papanasam in Thanjavur district and whose service is not regularized from 1985 got reprieve with the Madras high court directing the authorities to regularize her service from the date of her appointment and consequently to grant the monetary benefits derived out of such regularisation.
Allowing a petition filed by Sarasu, Justice K. Ravichandrabaabu said such exercise shall be done by the authorities within 12 weeks.
The grievance of the petitioner was that though she was appointed as Sweeper at Panchayat Union Dispensary as early as on August 24, 1985, and she is continuously working in the said post all these years, the authorities have not chosen to regularize her service so far. The Commissioner of Papanasam Panchayat Union has also made recommendation through his proceedings dated June 15, 2001 and November 13, 2006 to the District Collector for regularizing her service. However, as she was not regularized, she filed the present petition, she added.
The authorities submitted that though it was admitted that the petitioner was sponsored by the Employment Exchange and appointed as Sweeper in the Panchayat Union, Papanasam on August 24, 1985, she could not be appointed to the permanent post, since she was not having the minimum educational qualification prescribed for the post of Junior Assistant/Tax Collector to which a pass in the 10th standard was required.
The judge said there was no dispute to the fact that the petitioner was sponsored by the District Employment Exchange and appointed as Sweeper in the Panchayat Union, Papanasam and she joined the duty on September 11, 1985. There was also no dispute to the fact that she was continuously rendering her service all these years. The authorities have admitted in their counter affidavit that as per G.O dated May 7, 2013, the petitioner has been brought the special scale of pay with effect from May 7, 2013.
Perusal of the G.O dated February 28, 2006 shows that the government directed the services of the daily wages employees working in all government departments who have rendered 10 years of service as on January 1, 2006 be regularized by appointing them in the time scale of pay of the post in accordance with the service conditions prescribed for the post concerned, subject to their being qualified for the post, the judge added. The judge said admittedly, as on the date of issuance of the said G.O, the petitioner was in service. “Therefore, the petitioner is entitled to get the regularization of her service.
