CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation (TNRDC) to maintain status quo in the matter of termination of services of 11 contract workers. A division Bench of Justices S Manikumar and V Bhavani Subbaroyan issued the directive while admitting a writ appeal from S Parthiban and 10 others, challenging the orders dated July 24 last by a single judge on August 10.
Originally Parthiban and others, appointed from 2004 onwards, moved the High Court through writ petitions challenging the orders of the TNRDC terminating their services and a single judge had ordered status quo on May 24 last. Passing further orders on July 24, the judge had vacated the status quo after holding that as the Ennore Port Connectivity Project had already been completed, the petitioners could not claim any right over contractual appointment.
Questioning this, the petitioners preferred the present appeal. Referring to the statement made by the chief minister on the floor of the Assembly that the project was still continuing, the petitioners wanted an order of status quo ante. The single judge had erred in vacating the interim order, when the material on record showed that the appointments were followed by confirmation orders and that they had worked for many years, ranging from six to 15 years.
Rendering them jobless at this age and stage would cause serious hardship and irreparable loss, appellants contended. Conceding the contentions, the Bench said that the appointment letters showed that the appellants, after completion of probation for six months, would be confirmed. If they were under contract, there was no need to put them on probation and thereafter confirm their services.
No advance bail for Vijay fan
The Madras HC on Thursday refused advance bail to Ram Kumar, an ardent fan of actor Vijay, who apprehended arrest for allegedly abusing Dhanya Rajendran, a journalist. Dhanya had compared a Sharukh movie to Vijay-starred Sura enraging Vijay fans, who abused her on social media.