‘TNPSC currently lacks bandwidth to handle all appointments for boards, depts’
However, despite the legislation, a few departments, including municipal administration, cooperation and others, continued direct recruitment by issuing separate government orders seeking exemption from the TNPSC (Additional Functions) Act, 2022.
While hailing the TVK government’s move to implement the Act, a section of job aspirants urged the state to end the practice of making other crucial appointments, including assistant public relations officer posts, by circumventing the TNPSC process. They alleged that, for the past five decades, such posts have been allotted to family members, relatives and associates of DMK and AIADMK leaders.
“The recruitment carried out in the municipal administration department during the DMK regime got mired in controversy after allegations of bribery surfaced against the then minister KN Nehru, over appointments. Recruitment in the cooperation department also faced delays due to multiple court cases,” said S Kannan, a job aspirant, demanding that the TNPSC Act should be enforced in letter and spirit.
Citing a recent Supreme Court order, a TNPSC coaching trainer said that around 33% of vacancies in government departments should be filled through direct recruitment, while the remaining 67% should be filled through promotion.