Chennai, July 18: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today said the review petitions of nearly 1.70 lakh dismissed Tamil Nadu government employees vis-a-vis their reinstatement should be "considered immediately". "The petitions should be considered immediately after observing due procedures and following the principles of natural justice," she said in a statement here.
The chief minister said she has also ordered that each individual should be given an opportunity by serving a notice, followed by a personal enquiry. "This process would soon start," she added. Jayalalithaa, who chaired a meeting of cabinet members and senior officials in the secretariat this afternoon, described as "baseless" reports that the administration had come to a standstill on account of absence of employees against whom disciplinary action was taken in view of their participation in the strike.
"This is totally baseless," she said, adding that the total number of employees in government was 12.65 lakh of whom action was taken only against 1.70 lakh employees.
"Thus, about 11 lakh employees are still in service attending to their duties in their respective departments. It is thus totally baseless to even suggest that the government administration has come to a standstill, given the fact that 11 lakh employees are continuing to render services to the people of the state," said Jayalalithaa. The Federation of the Joint Action Council of the Tamil Nadu Teachers and Government Employees and the Confederation of Tamil Nadu Government Teachers and Employees Organisations had called off their 11-day stir on July 12. The employees were demanding restoration of curtailed benefits.
The decision was taken a day after the madras high court declined to intervene in the dismissal of the striking government employees under ESMA. The organisations had also decided not to appeal against the verdict. Bureau Report