CHIEF ENGINEER Vs. JOINT DIRECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition is filed for issuance of a writ of Certiorari, to quash the impugned Proceedings No. E/568/2013 dtd. 5/3/2014 of the 1st respondent.

(2.) The brief facts as stated in the affidavit is that the Tuticorin Thermal Power Station of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board was set up in the year 1957. The Board had also set up Thermal Stations in Ennore, North Madras and Mettur.

(3.) Thereafter Board Proceedings No.17, dtd. 28/4/1999, was issued wherein it was decided that the contract labourers who have worked directly in the Board for not less than 480 days between 6/1/1996 to 5/1/1998 and continued to be in service as on that date may be absorbed. A committee was appointed in each of the four Thermal Power Stations to scrutinize the claims of the contract workmen and identify them. Thereafter the Board had abolished the engagement of contract workmen in all the four Thermal Power Stations from 1/5/1999 onwards and ineligible persons were discontinued from 28/10/1999. It was also directed that such of those contract workmen who were not absorbed may be engaged as casuals on a daily rate of wages. When once the process of absorption was completed, the Board directed all the four Power Stations including the Tuticorin Thermal Power Station to stop engaging contract workmen before 1/11/1999 and infact, the discontinuation of the engagement of casual workmen was done in the last week of 28/10/1999.