CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has imposed an additional cost of Rs 10,000 on the Secretary, Department of Higher Education, for not filing the counter-affidavit in connection with a PIL from the TN Teachers Association of the Visually Challenged. The costs should be deposited as a pre-condition for the counter-affidavit to be taken on record, the first bench of Chief Justice SK Kaul and Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana said on Wednesday.
The PIL sought a 3 per cent reservation for the disabled in all grades/cadres for the posts of teachers, head-masters, lecturers and professors, to be filled up by promotion in schools and colleges and other educational institutions.
Counters have been belatedly filed by the other respondents -- School Education Secretary, Primary Education Director, School Education director and the State Council of Educational Research and Training director -- despite it being the last opportunity and any delay being subject to costs if filing takes place beyond the time stipulated of four weeks.
When the matter came up today, the Special Government Pleader stated that the Higher Education Secretary is yet to file the counter.
The bench granted two more weeks time for filing counter, subject to the depositing of a further cost of Rs 10,000 with the TN Mediation and Conciliation Centre attached to the High Court. Rejoinder, if any, to be filed within two weeks thereafter, the bench added and posted the matter for further hearing on March 3.