HC raps employees with undue benefits

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday asked the Central Government to file an affidavit stating the details of employees in the government service who were transferred to the state of their choice and still drawing benefits of the state they were working in earlier.A Division Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice C T Ravikumar passed the order while considering an appeal filed by the Union Ministry challenging the Central Administrative Tribunal order to re-fix the pay of P Rajumon of Kannur, a stenographer in the Assistant Directorate of Income Tax office, Kannur. Rajumon, who was transferred to Kerala from Mumbai, had challenged the Center’s decision to cut his allowances. The court observed that when people like Rajumon are employed elsewhere, they try to get a transfer by holding out a statement saying that they will follow the norms. The court pointed out that the net effect of this will be financial benefits along with stay at their native place. The executive cannot extent such largesse, the court held.Candidates seeking employment in the public sector in the future will be affected by such practices. This needs serious consideration, the court said.