HC passes interim stay on GO for appointing APROs

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday passed an interim stay on a Government Order (GO) framing new regulations to appoint the government Assistant Public Relations Officers (APROs) in the government. The stay will be in operation for four weeks.

Justice D Krishnakumar passed the direction on hearing a petition filed by Srinivasa Masilamani of Senthangudi Village in Mayiladuthurai district.

The petitioner prayed for a direction to quash the GO issued by the Tamil Tamil Development and Information department on August 1. The said GO amended the qualifications of APRO and brought recruitment under the purview of TNPSC.

Representing the petitioner, senior advocate P Wilson submitted that ad hoc rules framed under Article 309 of the constitution for recruitment of APRO temporary posts do not require any specific UG degree.

“Since the post is a temporary one, it does not come under TNPSC purview at all. However, contrary to the recruitment rules framed under Article 309 and Article 320 of the constitution, the functions of TNPSC, by executive order, the government even without amending rules issued impugned GO altering the qualifications to a specific degree,” senior counsel Wilson submitted.

He further added that the TNPSC has no role in these temporary posts covered under Adhoc rules and is barred under section 18 of the TN Government Servant (conditions of services) Act, 2016.

Recording the submissions of P Wilson, the judge granted an interim stay on the GO for 4 weeks and adjourned the matter.