Chennai HC: Stay on Permission Condition for Field Workers
Tamil Nadu: The Chennai High Court has issued an interim stay on a government order that mandated veterinary field workers to obtain prior permission from higher officials before proceeding to treat animals, conduct field inspections, or participate in camp activities during emergency situations.
This matter stems from a petition filed by Dr. Senthilkumar, the Secretary of the Veterinary Assistants Association in the Tiruvannamalai district. The petition stated that, in March of last year, the Tamil Nadu government launched a mobile application named “Kanava Valam” within the Animal Husbandry Department. Through this app, a facial recognition-based attendance system was implemented for departmental employees.
The petition further noted that, alongside this implementation, a directive was issued requiring veterinary assistants to seek permission from their senior officials before undertaking any emergency response or field work. The petitioner argued that this rule would create impediments during emergencies, leading to delays in treating animals and, in many instances, potentially endangering their lives. Furthermore, it was contended that this could result in financial losses for livestock owners.
The case was heard before Justice P.D. Audikesavalu at the Chennai High Court. Advocate R. Maheshwari represented the petitioner, while Special Government Pleader Chandrasekaran appeared on behalf of the State Government.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the Court issued a significant order. The Court granted an interim stay on the specific rule that made it mandatory for field workers to obtain prior permission before engaging in emergency duties and inspections.
Additionally, the Court directed the Tamil Nadu government to file a detailed counter-affidavit in response to the petition. The next hearing for the case has been scheduled for July.
This order from the Court has brought relief to field workers in the veterinary sector, as they will no longer face impediments in taking immediate action during emergency situations. Meanwhile, the government is expected to present its arguments regarding the rationale behind this rule at a later stage.
