Former ADGP Jaffar Sait’s suspension revoked

It also hit out at the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for adopting a novel device to put its own order of revoking the suspension in cold storage by entertaining clarification petitions and stay petitions moved by the State. 

A division bench comprising Justice K K Sasidaran and Justice V Parthiban on revoking the suspension of Jaffar Sait with immediate effect, said “We are in agreement with the views expressed and the findings recorded by the tribunal that the prolonged suspension in the subject case is nothing but an arbitrary exercise of power and it was not a sound exercise of discretion.” 

But not withstanding this, “The Tribunal adopted a novel device to put its order in cold storage by entertaining clarification petitions and stay petitions. The State by making use of the interim stay, extended the suspension. The effect is that in spite of the order directing revocation of suspension and reinstatement, the state managed to extend the suspension and kept the petitioner out of service”, the bench added. 

Jaffar Sait, in-charge of intelligence under the DMK regime, was placed under suspension, immediately on assumption of office by the new government in 2011. He has been under prolonged suspension for the last five years and five months, pending disposal of criminal cases initiated on allegation of helping his subordinates to acquire housing plots under discretionary quota by creating records and thereby causing loss to the Tamil Nadu Housing Board. 

After several bouts of hearing and the competent authority rejecting sanction for prosecution, the Tribunal in a common order directed the State to re-instate the petitioner into service. But the State on the guise of seeking clarification got CAT to stay its own order.

Elections to the Tamil Nadu Film Producers Council is finally getting firmed up with the Madras High Court appointing a retired Judge of the High Court Justice S Rajeshwaran as the Election Officer to conduct the elections.

Justice K Kalyanasundaram on passing orders on a batch of original applications arising out of two civil suits from K Rajan, AR Murugadoss, AG Alagappan and R. Kishorekumar, sought Justice Rajeshwaran to conduct the election as per the bye laws by issuing 21 days’ clear notice to all the members, who are eligible to contest in the election as well as cast their votes. 

While the first two plaintiffs prayed for a direction to the Council to hold the elections to its office-bearers for 2017-19 strictly in accordance with the Council bye-laws, after preparing a valid electorate by the election officer to be appointed by the court, the remaining plaintiffs pleaded for appointment of a retired judge of the High Court to hold the elections. 

The pleas contended that the Council, without issuing notice to the general body, by fixing a place and time and without appointing an election officer, had issued the election notification and also increased the fees for the candidates, arbitrarily. The judge in his order also directed the council to pay the election officer a remuneration of Rs.3 Lakh in addition to other incidental expenses.