SC pulls up Goa Chief Secretary for defending altered Bombay HC rules

Read Time: 03 minutes

Synopsis

We are shocked to know that he is defending them, a division bench of the top court has observed

The Supreme Court of India recently pulled up the Goa chief secretary for defending the state government's decision to alter Bombay High Court rules relating to the recruitment and services of court employees at the Goa bench.

A bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih thus observed, "We need to teach him a lesson? This is a brazen act. He is confident enough to defend the rules which should be withdrawn...".

Court has also sought the Chief Secretary's personal appearance in virtual mode on the next date of hearing and asked him to explain his conduct.

It came to the court's attention that the chief justice of the Bombay High Court was not consulted before publishing the High Court of Bombay at Goa Officers and the Members of the Staff on the Establishment (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules of 2023.

Accordingly, a suo motu case was registered based on representations made by former employees of the Bombay High Court over the non-payment of their terminal dues.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta clarified that he was not defending the rules and sought some time to rectify the error. The matter wil now be heard on November 22.

Top Court had earlier granted an opportunity to the Goa government to rectify its error.