It has also recruited female drivers skilled in handling all types of motor vehicles
It has also recruited female drivers skilled in handling all types of motor vehicles
The Madras High Court has become an equal opportunity employer in every respect by appointing women to all positions, from the lowest cadre of Chobdar (mace bearer) to the highest cadre of the Registrar General. The High Court also has a lady driver, who is skilled in handling all types of motor vehicles.
Although some women in the district judge’s cadre had held the post of Registrar General since 2007, before both became judges, this is the first time in the history of the High Court that women were recruited for the post. The position of Chobdar, whose primary job was to carry the mace before the judges.
Justice RN Manjula, a member of the Gender Sensitization and Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at the key seat of the High Court in Chennai, has become the first judge of the High Court to utilize the services of a woman Chobdar. A brand new mace that is firmer and heavier than the old hollow mace.
While male chobdars were expected to wear a white shirt and turban-like red cap, which displays the national emblem and a band around their waist, female chobdar’s uniform consists of a white salwar kameez with a dupatta, hat though. The waistband remains the same.
The mace holds a significance in the history of the High Court as its presence outside the chamber of a judge indicates his/her presence inside the chambers and its absence indicates otherwise. Mace bearers ensure free passage of judges from their chambers to the court hall.
The High Court had on March 14 last year released the notification for the recruitment of 40 Chobdars, 310 Office Assistants and vagabond vacancies to the post of Cook, Waterman, Room Boy, Chowkidar, Book Restorer and Library Attendant. He was offered Pay Level-I, which was in the band of ₹15,700 to ₹50,000.
The minimum educational qualification prescribed for the posts was Class VIII pass and candidates in the age group of 18-30 years (relaxable up to 35 years in case of reserved categories including destitute widows) were selected through a written examination followed by a written examination. Practical and an oral test.
The written test was conducted to test the knowledge of the candidates in current affairs, basic arithmetic abilities, knowledge in house keeping, Tamil language skills etc. According to court sources, many graduates applied for the posts and the number of women selected was high.