Be a model employer, government agencies told

CHENNAI: Government agencies should set an example and act like a model employer, the Madras High Court has observed.Justice D Hariparanthaman made the observation last week, while allowing a batch of writ petitions from M Anandan and eight others challenging the orders of the executive officer of Sathuvacheri III Grade Municipality in Vellore district refusing to regularise their services from the date of completion of three years of continuous service in terms of a ‘97 GO.While Anandan and five others were employed as watchmen/water suppliers, two others were engaged as electricians in the municipality from 1998 on a consolidated pay. Based on a 1997 GO relating to regularisation of services of the employees on completion of three years of service, the executive officer recommended to the municipal administration commissioner to regularise their services on their completion of three years of service. However, citing the 2001 ban order on recruitment imposed by the government, they were not regularised. After the ban was lifted, the impugned order was passed regularising them in 2006. Hence, the present petitions to regularise their services from 1998. Citing an earlier order of the HC on the similar issue, the judge said when sanitary workers, who filed the earlier petitions were given the benefits, the authorities could not now allege that the petitioners, having accepted the benefit under February 27, 2006 order, could not agitate against the same.