A petition has been moved before the Madras High Court questioning the appointment of astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty (Political) to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay. The plea alleges that the appointment was made purely as a political reward for the astrologer’s prediction about the electoral rise of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and Vijay becoming Chief Minister, raising larger concerns over transparency and legality in public appointments funded through the State exchequer.
The matter was urgently mentioned before a Vacation Bench of Justice Victoria Gowri and Justice N Senthilkumar by Petitioner R Rathi, a practising advocate, who sought a writ of quo warranto challenging the authority under which Vettrivel continues in office. According to the plea, the appointment was issued without any recruitment notification, selection process, service rules, eligibility criteria, or public applications.
The Petitioner argued that the post amounted to a public appointment since the order was copied to the Pay and Accounts Office and the Accountant General, thereby indicating expenditure from public funds. The plea contended that appointments to public posts cannot be made through backdoor methods or on political considerations alone.
The petition claims the appointment order issued on 12th May was merely on the basis of an office note from the Chief Minister’s Office and lacked any statutory framework governing the post. It further alleges that the absence of prescribed service conditions was a deliberate attempt to avoid judicial scrutiny.
Calling the appointment “highly illegal, without the authority of law, unconstitutional,” the petitioner argued that it violates Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, guaranteeing equality and equal opportunity in public employment. The plea seeks quashing of the appointment order and an interim direction restraining Vettrivel from functioning as Officer on Special Duty during the pendency of proceedings.
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