HC restrains State from filling up 218 VAO posts through direct recruitment

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered an interim injunction restraining the State and Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission from filling up 218 Village Administrative Officer (VAO) posts through direct recruitment.

Justice K. Kumaresh Babu passed the interim order while hearing the petition filed by Village Administrative Officers Association, represented by its State president (in-charge) R. Arul Raj of Karaikudi in Sivaganga district.

The petitioner said the Commissioner of Revenue Administration used to conduct counselling once a year for the purpose of one-way transfer of the incumbents. Guidelines were also issued in this regard.

For 2025-26, the incumbents were directed to apply for one-way transfer counselling. Hence, the association members had applied for transfer counselling. However, the 218 posts notified as district vacancies for 2025-26 were handed over to the TNPSC for filling up of the vacancies through direct recruitment. Due to the arbitrary action the prospect of incumbents to be transferred to the nearby district had been completely curtailed, he said.

The authorities should have transferred the eligible VAOs based on their applications. After completion of the transfer counselling, the vacancies should have been determined. After the vacancies were determined in each district, they should have been handed over to the TNPSC, he said. The court posted the matter for hearing to November 14.