Published Jul 14, 2026 | 9:32 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 14, 2026 | 9:32 PM
Supreme Court of India. (iStock)
Synopsis: The Supreme Court has upheld the Madras High Court’s decision cancelling the appointments of 54 Junior Assistants recruited by the Coimbatore Corporation in 2021, citing serious irregularities in the selection process. The court questioned how 440 applications were scrutinised and appointment orders issued “overnight”, and rejected a plea to retain the appointees on humanitarian grounds.
The Supreme Court has upheld the Madras High Court’s order cancelling the appointments of 54 Junior Assistants hired by the Coimbatore Corporation during the AIADMK regime in 2021.
Dismissing a special leave petition filed by the terminated employees, the apex court questioned how 440 candidates could have been vetted and approved “overnight”.
A bench comprising Justices KV Viswanathan and Arun Bhali took a highly critical view of the recruitment process, questioning its lightning-fast pace.
“If we, as judges, do not have enough time to thoroughly read the 65 cases listed before us daily, how were you able to evaluate 440 applications and issue appointment letters overnight?” the bench asked.
The court also criticised the corporation for publicising the vacancies only through an e-paper instead of in leading national dailies.
Despite senior counsel VV Giri’s plea for leniency on humanitarian grounds for candidates who are differently abled, the bench flatly rejected the request, stating that illegal appointees must be removed immediately.
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The controversy traces back to 2021, when SP Velumani was serving as the Municipal Administration Minister under the AIADMK government.
The Coimbatore Corporation invited applications for 69 Junior Assistant posts. Of the 654 applicants, 440 candidates were called for certificate verification, resulting in the appointment of 54 individuals.
Unsuccessful but qualified aspirants, led by an employee named Easwari, moved the Madras High Court. They alleged that the civic body had bypassed established recruitment rules, failed to issue proper public advertisements, and carried out the appointments through the “backdoor” without written examinations or a duly constituted selection panel.
While a single-judge bench initially dismissed the petition, a Division Bench of the Madras High Court overturned that ruling on 18 June 2026, quashing all 54 appointments as “illegal and fraudulent” and directing departmental action against the officials responsible.
The terminated employees then took the matter to the Supreme Court.
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The verdict is a blow to SP Velumani and presents a major political dilemma for the C Joseph Vijay led-Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government.
Rumours have been rife that former minister SP Velumani, reportedly unhappy with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, has been exploring a move to the ruling TVK.
Chief Minister Vijay has reportedly been keen to bring influential leaders from the western belt into the party, mirroring recent developments involving other former AIADMK heavyweights such as MR Vijayabhaskar and C Vijayabaskar.
However, the Supreme Court’s ruling comes at a particularly awkward time for those reported plans.
With Chief Minister Vijay aggressively directing the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to revive corruption cases against former DMK ministers, remaining silent on SP Velumani’s alleged role in the illegal recruitment process, or welcoming him into the TVK fold despite the Supreme Court’s scathing observations, could severely dent his image as a proponent of clean governance.
