S.MUNIYANDI Vs. STATE OF TAMILNADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Government of Tamil Nadu took a policy decision to restructure the Directorates of Agriculture, Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Seed Certification and Organic Certification, Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business and also Tamil Nadu Horticulture Development Agency (TANHODA). Pursuant to their policy decision, G.O.(Ms)No. 537, Agriculture Department, dated 24.12.2007 was issued. The existing Three Tier System was made into Two Tier System. That is, District Level, Taluk Level and Block Level system was made into District and Block level system. The same was to provide technological assistance and subsidies to the farmers at one point. The existing staffing pattern reflected the priorities of "Green Revolution" type production oriented agriculture. The policy of the Government has shifted towards "producing for markets". The entire scenario was discussed with all the Heads of the Directorates referred to above and the Head of the Department of the four Directorates referred to above sent proposals for restructuring their Directorates. Based on the proposals, G.O.(Ms)No. 537 was issued on restructure. Pursuant to the policy of restructuring, various measures were taken. All those measures that are stated in the said Government Order are not relevant, except the one relating to staff reallocation under restructure.

(2.) The Government Order in G.O.(Ms) No. 537 contains 19 paras with Annexures I V. Paras 1 to 16 gives various details relating to restructure and para 17 deals with the direction issued by the Government to implement the restructure proposals in respect of four Directorates and TANHODA. The directions are contained in paras 17(i) to 17(xiv). Paras 18 and 19 are not very much relevant. The cadre strength of technical post for the four Directorates and TANHODA are given in details in the Annexures, running to 42 pages.

(3.) In the restructuring of the Directorates, though reallocation of staff took place, the total strength remained the same after restructure also. There were 8691 technical staff in all the Departments put together and the said number remained constant, after restructure also.