Madras HC seeks state’s response on fixing accountability of govt employees
Madras HC seeks state’s response on fixing accountability of govt employees
Madras High CourtA division bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and B Pugalendhi observed that the state government constituted an administrative reforms committee under the chairmanship of retired Madras High Court Justice A K Rajan to ensure a corruption free and transparent administration.
The judges said that certain recommendations of the said committee were also accepted by the government before passing a GO. One of the recommendations was for fixing accountability on every government servant, at every stage.
Even though the GO was passed in 2010, none of the departments took effective steps to implement it.
“Every government servant is expected to act in accordance with the acts, rules and the GOs issued by the government then and there. If the secretary level officers have not complied with the orders of the government, how can we expect a common citizen to comply with the orders,” observed the judges.
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They added that if the government servant is not complying with the orders of the government, the same can be treated as a misconduct or as unbecoming of the government servant, warranting initiation of appropriate departmental proceedings against thems.
The judges also stated that ‘Ignorantia legis neminem excusat’ – Ignorance of law excuses no one. Even a common man cannot plead that he is ignorant of the law of the government. When that is the position for a common man, what would be the responsibility of the secretary level officers. If the GOs are utterly disobeyed by the secretary level officers, then who can be expected to obey the GOs, the judges questioned.
The case was adjourned to December 22 for further hearing.
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