Minister refutes corruption charges in appointment of govt law officers

Chennai: State Law minister R Nirmalkumar on Tuesday denied charges of corruption in the appointment of govt law officers in districts.The minister’s statement comes in the wake of allegations that cash was collected by TVK district secretaries to appoint around 800 govt law officers across the state. TVK advocate wings district joint secretary from Villupuram, M Gnanasoundari had filed a petition in MAdras High Court that bribe was collected for the postings.Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Nirmalkumar refuted the charge. “False information is being spread. Several thousand applications have been received and they are being scrutinised by the respective district collectors. All appointments would be made based on merit,’’ Nirmalkumar said. He said no appointments have been made so far and candidates are yet to be finalised. ``If anyone is found to demand or receive money, legal action would be taken,” Nirmal said.Opposition parties have flayed TVK govt over the issue. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami criticised that ``incompetent persons’’ were appointed as govt law officers. Nirmal rejected the charge and said the govt law officers were appointed temporarily for six months and they will be removed if they are incompetent.On the criticism over industries minister S Keerthana’s inspection at a govt school in Virudhunagar, Nirmalkumar said the chief minister’s office has instructed ministers not to conduct `unnecessary inspections and disturb the functioning of govt officials.’Later in the day in Coimbatore, Nirmal Kumar said the DMK was scared of CM Joseph Vijay’s proposed Karur visit. “Chief Minister has every right to travel anywhere within the state. Why is the DMK so afraid of Karur visit? he asked.